Ricky Hunley facts for kids

Ricky Cardell Hunley (born November 11, 1961) is a well-known American football coach and former professional player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. Ricky Hunley is famous for his time playing college football at the University of Arizona.

He was chosen in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft. He played professionally for teams like the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Raiders. Today, he is the defensive line coach at the University of Arizona, where he once played.

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 from 1980 to 1983. He played for the Arizona Wildcats football team. During his junior year in 1982 and his senior year in 1983, he was recognized as a top college player. He was the first Arizona Wildcat football player to receive this special honor.

In 1998, Ricky Hunley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. This was a huge achievement, as he was the first player from the University of Arizona to join the Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

After college, Ricky Hunley began his NFL career. He played for the Denver Broncos from 1984 to 1987. He then joined the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988 and the Los Angeles Raiders from 1989 to 1990.

It's interesting to note that the Cincinnati Bengals first drafted Hunley. However, he was traded to the Denver Broncos before playing a game for the Bengals. While with the Broncos, he played in two major championship games: Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXII.

Ricky Hunley also took on a leadership role off the field. He was elected as the executive vice president of the NFL Players Association from 1990 to 1992. This organization helps protect the rights of NFL players.

Coaching Career Highlights

After his playing days, Hunley became a football coach. He coached at several colleges, including the University of Southern California (1992–1993), University of Missouri (1994–2000), University of Florida (2001), and the University of Memphis (2014–2015).

He helped the Florida Gators win a big game called the BCS FedEx 2002 Orange Bowl. In his first two coaching jobs, he worked under a coach named Larry Smith.

Coaching in the NFL

Hunley also coached in the NFL. He started with the Washington Redskins in 2002 as the defensive line coach. He then became the Linebackers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003 to 2007.

In 2005, Hunley helped the Bengals have a very successful season. They won their division with an 11–5 record, which was their first winning season since 1990.

Return to College Coaching

Ricky Hunley returned to college football, coaching for the Memphis Tigers for two seasons (2014–2015). In 2015, he helped the Tigers achieve a 9-4 record and play in the Birmingham Bowl.

On December 30, 2020, Hunley joined Jedd Fisch's coaching staff. He became the defensive line coach at the University of Arizona, which is his old college team. He continues to coach there today.

Personal Life

Ricky Hunley is married to Camille, and they have two daughters. His younger brother, Lamonte, was also a talented linebacker at the University of Arizona. Ricky Hunley also started the Ricky Hunley Football Camp. This camp is a non-profit center that teaches football skills to high school boys.