Willie Peete, a Legacy in Green Bay, Passes Away at 87

A former Green Bay Packers coach and father of a former NFL quarterback has passed away.

He was 87 years old.

The Green Bay Packers announced on Wednesday evening that a former coach had died earlier this month. Willie Peete, a former assistant coach for the Packers in the 1980s and ’90s, passed away in early December.

Willie Peete, a former offensive backfield coach, died on Dec. 2. He coached for the Packers from 1987 until 1992.

The former NFL coach is the father of former quarterback Rodney Peete, who played in the league from 1989 until 2004. He was an All-American at USC and the Pac 10’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1988.

GREEN BAY, WI – JANUARY 8: A general view of the stadium during the NFC Wild Card game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants at Lambeau Field on January 8, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Packers are saddened by his passing:

Willie Peete, former offensive backfield coach of the Green Bay Packers, died Dec. 2, 2024. A celebration of life for Peete is scheduled Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., his hometown.

Peete was 87.

Peete was hired as running backs and special teams coach by head coach Forrest Gregg in 1987. A year later, Peete was retained as backfield coach by Lindy Infante and served under him through 1991. At the end of that season, Peete lost his job when Infante was fired by recently hired general manager Ron Wolf.

Peete previously coached at the University of Arizona from 1971-82 and with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1987-91. Peete’s youngest son, Rodney, played quarterback in the NFL from 1989-99 and again from 2001-04 with six different teams.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family members during this difficult time on Wednesday.

May he rest in peace.