Rod Payne facts for kids

Rod Payne (born June 14, 1974) is a former American football player. He played as a center for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL). Rod also played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. He was named an All-American in 1996.

After his playing career, Rod became a high school football coach. He was even named the 2007 South Florida Sun-Sentinel Coach of the Year. Later, he coached at Florida Atlantic University and Spanish River Community High School. Today, he works as a personal fitness trainer.

Rod Payne's Early Life and College Football

Rod Payne grew up in Miami, Florida. In high school, he was a talented offensive lineman and wrestler at Miami Killian High School. He was recognized as an All-Dade County player.

Playing for the Michigan Wolverines

Rod played college football at the University of Michigan for four years. He started 40 games, including 37 games in a row. He was named first-team All-Big Ten twice. In 1996, he was chosen as the Most Valuable Player for the Michigan team. He was also a team co-captain that year.

Rod was a first-team All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country. He was special because he could use both hands to snap the ball. Once, he broke his right wrist during a game. He then used his left hand to snap the ball for the rest of the game!

Rod Payne's Professional Football Career

The Cincinnati Bengals picked Rod Payne in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft. He played as a backup for the Bengals in 1997 and 1998. Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short because of many injuries. He had twelve surgeries to fix football-related injuries.

Joining the Baltimore Ravens

After leaving the Bengals, Rod signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. He joined their practice squad in November of that year. He was part of the Ravens team that won Super Bowl XXXV. This means he earned a Super Bowl ring!

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Rod Payne explored different careers. He co-authored a book in 2006 called "Centered by a Miracle." This book was about his friend's battle with leukemia and how Rod helped him.

Coaching and Community Work

Rod has also taught special education and managed a health club. He has been a personal trainer and hosted a sports talk radio show. He is also a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

Rod is married and has one child. He coached football and wrestling at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2007, he was named the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Coach of the Year. His team had a great season, winning 7 out of 10 games.

In 2008, Rod became the head coach at Felix Varela High School in Kendall, Florida. Then, in 2009, he became the defensive line coach at Florida Atlantic University. He coached there until 2011. In 2012, he coached at Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton, Florida.