Jimmy Raye came to Michigan State University from Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1964 to play football for Hall of Fame head coach Duffy Daugherty. When he left MSU in 1968, he left as far more than just a football player. He was a pioneer, trailblazer and barrier-breaker, becoming the first African American quarterback from the South to win a National Championship, leading the 1966 Spartans to the national title. Following a two-year career in the NFL, Raye switched roles and became a mentor in the professional ranks, coaching for 37 seasons in the NFL for 10 different teams, including serving as an offensive coordinator for six franchises. He was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 and was a member of the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame “Awards of Excellence” Class in 2022 for his accomplishments as an NFL assistant coach.
