Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special

Episode of Mick Unplugged · October 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.

Summary

Mick Hunt welcomed Rodney Peete, the former USC All-American quarterback and Heisman finalist, whom Hunt compared to Magic Johnson in terms of advocacy, here for autism. Peete said his purpose was giving back because he had been blessed, crediting his parents, particularly his father, a college football coach and one of the few Black coaches in Arizona, and his older brother for instilling confidence and a work ethic. He described choosing quarterback because he wanted to control outcomes and inspire belief in teammates, and recalled a gifted neighborhood athlete, Jerry Johnson, whose lack of work ethic let Peete surpass him.

Hunt argued Peete would have shattered passing records in today's college game; Peete demurred, noting how rule changes protecting quarterbacks and receivers have transformed the passing game.

The core of the conversation concerned Peete's son RJ, diagnosed with autism at age three. Peete recounted a developmental pediatrician listing about 15 things RJ would likely never do, his own anger and roughly year-and-a-half of denial, and his belief he could coach autism out of his son. Watching a therapist connect with RJ on the floor made him realize his ego was the obstacle; once he began seeing the world through RJ's eyes, their relationship transformed. He discussed his book Not My Boy, which Hunt called one of the best leadership books, and its origin in speaking with men's groups struggling with their children's diagnoses.

Peete described the HollyRod Foundation, founded nearly 29 years earlier after Holly Robinson Peete's father's early-onset Parkinson's diagnosis and later expanded to autism, including a sensory-friendly travel partnership with American Airlines and an upcoming November 7 gala. Hunt pledged donations. In a closing rapid-fire round, Peete named Stanford as his alternative college choice, Reggie White as the defender he most dreaded, Holly as the better cook, and his father's calm honesty as his key fatherhood lesson.

Chapters

0:19
Introduction and Peete's purpose
Hunt introduces Peete as a hero and asks his 'because,' which Peete frames as giving back after being blessed.
5:09
Upbringing and athletic belief
Peete credits his parents' encouragement, his father's work ethic, and his older brother's competition for his confidence.
10:18
Leadership at quarterback
Peete explains why he chose quarterback and recalls how talented peer Jerry Johnson lacked work ethic.
15:46
Peete in today's college game
Hunt argues Peete would break records today, and Peete discusses rule changes and the evolution of passing.
19:37
RJ's autism diagnosis
Peete recounts the diagnosis, the pediatrician's list of limitations, and his anger and denial.
27:43
Overcoming ego
A therapy session showed Peete he was the obstacle, and seeing the world through RJ's eyes transformed their relationship.
30:45
Not My Boy and leadership lessons
Hunt praises the book as a leadership guide and Peete explains its origins with men's groups.
34:23
The HollyRod Foundation
Peete describes the foundation's Parkinson's and autism work, the American Airlines partnership, and an upcoming gala; Hunt pledges donations.
Linked moment · 40:29Skip to 40:29 using a listen link in the info box.
40:29
Rapid-fire questions
Peete discusses Stanford, Reggie White, Holly's cooking, his father's lessons, and his desired legacy.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 6:08 · Work ethic
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 7:23 · Work ethic
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 11:25 · Leadership
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 13:47 · Work ethic
Mick Hunt
Hunt argues that Peete would have been the first college quarterback to throw for around 7,000 yards in a season if he played today.
“Rodney Pete would have been the first quarterback to throw for like 7,000 yards in a season because you were that surgical with the ball”
Listen from 16:40 · USC Trojans football
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 19:13 · Evolution of the passing game in football
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 24:04 · Autism
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 25:19 · Fatherhood
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 26:32 · Fatherhood
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 28:56 · Autism
Mick Hunt
Hunt considers Not My Boy one of the best leadership books, though it was not written as one.
“I would classify it as one of the best leadership books that are out there because it helps you understand uncomfortable truths”
Listen from 31:19 · Not My Boy
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 31:58 · Not My Boy
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 35:10 · HollyRod Foundation
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 35:51 · American Airlines
Rodney Peete
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”
Listen from 44:45 · Fatherhood

People

In the conversation

Mick HuntHost of the Mick Unplugged podcast
Rodney PeeteFormer USC and NFL quarterback, author, and co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation

Discussed

Holly Robinson PeeteActress, Rodney Peete's wife and co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation
Rodney Peete Jr.Rodney Peete's son, known as RJ, who is autistic
Willie PeeteRodney Peete's father and a college football coach
Magic JohnsonFormer NBA player who hosted the short-lived talk show The Magic Hour
Jerry JohnsonGifted neighborhood athlete from Peete's childhood
John ElwayFormer Stanford and Denver Broncos quarterback
Reggie WhiteHall of Fame defensive lineman for Philadelphia and Green Bay
Lawrence TaylorHall of Fame New York Giants linebacker
Ronnie LottHall of Fame safety known for hard hits
Simon SinekAuthor known for the "Start With Why" concept

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