Rodney Peete
Former USC and NFL quarterback, author, and co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation
Rodney Peete (Former USC and NFL quarterback, author, and co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Fatherhood, Work ethic, Autism.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Fatherhood
Peete says his father taught him calm and honesty, saying problems could always be worked out if he told the truth.
“my dad used to always say we can always work it out if you just tell me the truth”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 44:45
Peete says he lost connection with his son for about a year and a half after the diagnosis because he refused to engage with therapies.
“there was a period of time from that diagnosis for about a year and a half where I started to lose a connection with my son”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 26:32
Peete admits his ego led him to believe he could coach autism out of his son, which he calls the worst thing he could have done.
“I went into my own, as I put it, my own ego, like I could I could coach this out of him and I didn't need to read the literature”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 25:19
Work ethic
Peete argues that talent without work ethic is insufficient, citing how he surpassed the more naturally gifted Jerry Johnson.
“you can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't work at it and you don't have the work ethic, talent's not going to get you there”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 13:47
Peete recounts that his mother told him he had to be twice as good as others to get noticed.
“my mom was the one always told me this that you got to be two times better than the next guy for you to get noticed”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 7:23
Peete says his father's daily example of working without complaint, rather than words, instilled his work ethic.
“I watched my dad get up at five o'clock every day and go to work and do his thing and not complain about it”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 6:08
Autism
Peete endorses his wife's philosophy of accepting RJ as he is and changing the world to accommodate him.
“I wouldn't change RJ for the world, but I would change the world for RJ. And I think that's so perfect”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 28:56
Peete recounts that a developmental pediatrician predicted RJ would likely never show emotion or say 'I love you,' which angered him.
“this was a kicker probably he'll never show emotions and say i love you and she went to a list of about 15 things mick”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 24:04
American Airlines
Peete describes the foundation's partnership with American Airlines offering sensory rooms and special services for families of children with special needs.
“there are sensory rooms in certain airports where kids and families can go and just be calm and then special services”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 35:51
HollyRod Foundation
Peete explains the foundation began after Holly's father was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's in his 40s.
“we originally started the foundation because Holly's dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's early onset Parkinson's in his 40s”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 35:10
Not My Boy
Peete says he wrote the book after speaking with men's groups who did not know how to cope with their children's diagnoses.
“there were a lot of men's groups that i spoke with that men didn't know how to deal with it”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 31:58
Evolution of the passing game in football
Peete says rule changes have reduced hits on quarterbacks and the danger for receivers crossing the middle, changing the game.
“There's not really that fear of a receiver going across the middle. So, yeah, the game has changed, but that's the evolution of sports”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 19:13
Leadership
Peete says he played quarterback because he wanted to be the person who could control the outcome and inspire teammates' belief.
“maybe it was a little bit of a control thing. But yeah, I wanted to be the guy that could control the outcome”
Mick Unplugged: Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 11:25
Appearances
Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod SpecialMick Unplugged · Oct 24, 2026 · 50 min
Mick Hunt interviews former USC and NFL quarterback Rodney Peete about his upbringing, leadership, his son's autism diagnosis, his book Not My Boy, and the HollyRod Foundation.
Often appears with
- Mick Hunt · 1 shared episode