2021 Update – Before the 2021 NFL draft, Rodney Hudson requested to be released from the Raiders. Instead of releasing him, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a third-round draft pick. After 6 years with the Raiders, it was surprising and we wish Rodney happiness. At the draft, the Raiders picked Jim Morrissey. He’s a big guy at 6 feet and 305 pounds.

Rodney Hudson is a valuable Raiders offensive lineman and the team’s center. He is also the only player on the team to play every offensive snap. The Kansas City Chiefs originally drafted Hudson in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. 

Rodney Hudson’s life before football wasn’t easy. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Rodney lived with his single mom in Mobile, Alabama. Forced to leave their damaged home, they became homeless. The solution they chose was for Rodney to live with his grandmother while his mom stayed with an aunt.

Once he was reunited with his mother again, he was in high school. After football practice, he worked at the local KFC. Even though he juggled high school, football, and a job, he still made All-State in his junior and senior years! For him, his success and driving force are contributed to his mother. 

Needless to say, joining the Raiders changed his life. Signed with the Raiders on March 11, 2015, with a whopping $44.5 million ($20 million guaranteed) 5-year contract. Ever since then, Rodney Hudson has been a constant key contributor to the team. When he renewed his contract with the Raiders in 2019, Rodney became the highest-paid center in the NFL.

Rodney Hudson is a great example of how passion and determination can change your life. When speaking with kids, the message he gives is that poverty doesn’t need to be a hindrance to success.