Background
Ray spent his early years in Belgium, Germany, and France while his father served in the United States Army. After his father was discharged, the family moved to Texas, where Ray played quarterback at Killeen High School.
Ray spent his early years in Belgium, Germany, and France while his father served in the United States Army. After his father was discharged, the family moved to Texas, where Ray played quarterback at Killeen High School.
He has said that he preferred to play soccer but that the atmosphere in the American South, especially Texas, was primed for football and so he kept it to himself. After high school, Ray went to the University of Oklahoma, where he switched to defense and played safety. He was also the punter and handled kickoff duties.
He ended his career as an Oklahoma Sooners football as a four-year letterman, two time 1st team All-Big Eight and 2nd team All-American.
He played in the Hula, Senior, Orange, and Fiesta Bowls. He was also named to Oklahoma"s All-Decade Team.
In 1980, he was drafted by the New York Jets. He played 5 seasons with them, finishing his career with 21 interceptions, in which he returned for 581 yards and 3 touchdowns.
He also recovered five fumbles, returning them for 131 yards and a score.
Chances for appearing in the Super Bowl were lost when the Jet lost to the Miami Dolphins two games later in the American Football Conference championship game. Darrol Ray currently lives in Norman, Oklahoma, where he graduated from college. He owned a liquor store for 15 years, which he recently closed to open his restaurant, Ray"s Smokehouse Barbecue.
