Rayford Jerald Coates (May 8, 1924 – July 3, 2013) was a professional American football player. He played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a halfback for the New York Giants. He attended Louisiana State University, where he played college football for the LSU Tigers football team.^[1] He was MVP of the 1947 Cotton Bowl. He was also a member of LSU’s 1946 SEC championship baseball team. For five decades he held the LSU record for longest punt, at 76-yards against Rice in 1944.^[2]

He scored four touchdowns in his professional career: three rushing in 1948 and one receiving in 1949.^[3] He also threw a touchdown pass in 1948, and recorded an interception and four fumble recoveries on defense in 1949.^[1]