Ray Rhodes
Mexia High School
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Inducted in 2022
Ray Rhodes was born and raised in Mexia, Texas. In 1968, Rhodes played a crucial role in integrating Mexia High School, as he and three other black students transferred from Dunbar High School to join Bob McQueen’s Black Cats. Although Rhodes played multiple sports and received a letterman in basketball and track and field, his football career started in Mexia. Rhodes was a dynamic running back at Mexia and helped his school earn a district championship and playoff berth. In college, Rhodes played running back at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth for two seasons
then transferred to Tulsa University in Oklahoma where he played wide receiver and running back positions. Rhodes was drafted 10th round by the New York Giants in the 1974 NFL Draft. Rhodes played wide receiver for the Giants before switching to the cornerback position. In 1979 he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Rhodes played a total seven NFL seasons before beginning
his coaching career. From 1981 to 2012, Rhodes coached in the NFL for the following teams: Defensive Back Coach for the 49ers; Defensive Coordinator Coach for the Green Bay Packers; Defensive Coordinator Coach with the 49ers; Head Coach with the Philadel- phia Eagles; Head Coach with the Green Bay Packers; Defensive Coordinator Coach with the Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks; and Assistant Defensive Coach with the Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans. During his NFL Career, Rhodes received 5 Super Bowl Rings with the 49ers and one championship ring with the Seahawks. Rhodes made history
by becoming the fourth African American Head Coach in the NFL. In the 1995 NFL season Rhodes received the NFL Coach of the Year Award, taking the Eagles to the playoffs and ending the season with a 10-6 record. Ray Rhodes was known for his no-nonsense coaching style that proved to be effective in motivating his players. The excellence exhibited by Rhodes in the many facets of his professional life is also a reflection of Mexia High School Football, where his career in football began.
