Ricky Hunley facts for kids

Ricky Cardell Hunley, born on November 11, 1961, is a well-known American football coach. He used to be a professional player, playing as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for seven seasons in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Hunley played college football for the University of Arizona. He was recognized twice as an All-American. This means he was considered one of the best college players in the country. He was chosen in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft. He then played professionally for the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Raiders. Today, he is the defensive line coach at the University of Arizona, which is his old college.

Early Life and High School Years

Ricky Hunley was born in Petersburg, Virginia. He went to Petersburg High School in his hometown.

College Football Career

Hunley attended the University of Arizona. He played for the Arizona Wildcats football team from 1980 to 1983. In 1982 and 1983, he was named a first-team All-American. He was the first player from the Arizona Wildcats to receive this honor.

In 1998, Ricky Hunley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. This is a very special award for college football players. He was the first player from the University of Arizona to be given this honor.

Professional Football Career

After college, Hunley played in the NFL. He played for the Denver Broncos from 1984 to 1987. He then joined the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988. From 1989 to 1990, he played for the Los Angeles Raiders.

Hunley was first drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he was traded to Denver before playing any games for them. He played in two big games, Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXII, for the Broncos. He also served as an executive vice president for the NFL Players Association. This group helps protect the rights of NFL players.

Coaching Career Highlights

Ricky Hunley has had a long and successful coaching career. He coached at several colleges. These include the University of Southern California (1992–93) and the University of Missouri (1994–2000). He also coached at the University of Florida (2001) and the University of Memphis (2014-15).

While coaching at Florida, he helped the Gators win the BCS FedEx 2002 Orange Bowl. This was a major college football game. He started his NFL coaching career in 2002. He was the defensive line coach for the Washington Redskins. Later, he became the Linebackers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003 to 2007.

In 2005, Hunley helped the Bengals have a great season. They had their first winning season since 1990. They also won the AFC North division title with an 11–5 record. He later returned to college football. He coached the Memphis Tigers for two seasons (2014–15). In 2015, he helped them achieve a 9-4 record. They also played in the Birmingham Bowl.

On December 30, 2020, Hunley joined the coaching staff at the University of Arizona. He became the defensive line coach at his old college.

Personal Life

Ricky Hunley is married to Camille. They have two daughters together. His younger brother, Lamonte, also played football. He was an All-American linebacker at Arizona, just like Ricky. Ricky Hunley also started the Ricky Hunley Football Camp. This is a non-profit center that teaches football to high school boys.