Jimmy Raye II facts for kids
Raye at 49ers training camp in August 2010
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| No. 30 | |
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| Position: | Cornerback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 26, 1946 Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | E. E. Smith (Fayetteville, North Carolina) |
| College: | Michigan State |
| NFL Draft: | 1968 / Round: 16 / Pick: 431 |
| Career history | |
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| As coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
James Arthur Raye Jr. (born March 26, 1946) is a well-known American football coach and former player. He has had a long and successful career in football.
Contents
Playing Football: Jimmy Raye's College Days
Jimmy Raye went to E. E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. This school was segregated at the time.
College Football Star
In college, Raye played as a quarterback for the Michigan State Spartans. He was a backup player for the team that played in the 1966 Rose Bowl. The next year, in 1966, he became the starting quarterback.
He led the Spartans in a famous game against Notre Dame. This game ended in a 10–10 tie and is often called "The Game of the Century."
Breaking Barriers in College Football
Jimmy Raye was a pioneer in college football. He was the first Black quarterback from the South to win a national title. This happened with the 1966 Michigan State team. Other talented Black players, like Bubba Smith, George Webster, and Gene Washington, also joined Michigan State. They came from the segregated South as part of a special program by coach Duffy Daugherty.
NFL Draft and Early Career
After college, the Los Angeles Rams drafted Raye to play as a cornerback. However, he was soon traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He played professionally for a short time before moving into coaching.
Coaching Career: A Long Journey in Football
Jimmy Raye began his coaching journey in 1971 at his old college, Michigan State. He coached there for five years. After that, he had short coaching jobs at Wyoming in 1976 and Texas in 1977.
Coaching in the NFL
Raye then moved to the NFL, where he coached for a total of 36 years. He worked with 10 different NFL teams during his career. He was an offensive coordinator for 13 seasons. This important role means he was in charge of planning how the team's offense would score points.
His time as an offensive coordinator included:
- Los Angeles Rams (1983–1984)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986)
- New England Patriots (1990)
- Kansas City Chiefs (1998–2000)
- Washington Redskins (2001)
- Oakland Raiders (2004–2005), where he was also an assistant head coach.
- San Francisco 49ers (2009–2010)
Challenges and Successes
After the 2009 49ers season, Raye received praise for his ability to change the team's offense. He did this even when key players were injured. He continued as the 49ers' offensive coordinator for the start of the 2010 season. This was a big deal because it was the first time in seven years that the 49ers had the same offensive coordinator for two seasons in a row. However, Raye was let go after the 49ers lost their first three games of 2010.
Helping Young People
In 1998, Jimmy Raye started the Jimmy Raye Youth Foundation. This foundation helps young people who might not have many opportunities. It shows his commitment to giving back to the community.
Family Life
Jimmy Raye Jr. has a son named Jimmy Raye III. His son also works in football. As of July 2025, Jimmy Raye III is the senior executive advisor to the General Manager for the Cleveland Browns.
