For most NFL and college football fans, the name everyone knows is Spencer Rattler—the quarterback with a five-star recruiting story, a Netflix documentary appearance, and now a professional career with the New Orleans Saints. But behind that highly public path is someone far more low-profile: his father, Mike Rattler. While Spencer has lived in the spotlight since high school, Mike has mostly stayed just outside camera range, shaping his son’s journey from the bleachers, the practice field, and the family home in Arizona.
Understanding who Mike Rattler is gives you a much clearer picture of how Spencer became the athlete and public figure he is today. Mike isn’t a celebrity coach, a viral social media personality, or a millionaire team owner. He’s a regional sales professional, former youth football coach, and deeply involved dad who helped his son navigate youth sports, recruiting, college transfers, NIL deals, and finally the NFL. This article walks through his background, work, family life, and influence on Spencer’s career in a detailed, biography-style look at the man behind the quarterback.
Quick Information Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael “Mike” Rattler |
| Best Known For | Father of NFL quarterback Spencer Rattler |
| Profession | Regional Sales Representative, Citizens Automobile & Recreation Finance |
| Education | Undergraduate degree completed at the University of Arkansas in 1991 |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Susan Konkel Rattler, longtime elementary school teacher |
| Children | Spencer Rattler (QB, New Orleans Saints) and Olivia Rattler (Division I beach volleyball player) |
| Home Base | Phoenix/Scottsdale area, Arizona |
| Public Net Worth Estimates | Commonly reported in the low six-figure range (unconfirmed) |
| Primary Connection to Football | Former youth football coach and hands-on sports parent |
Who Is Mike Rattler?
At the simplest level, Mike Rattler is known as the father of Spencer Rattler, an NFL quarterback who went from an Elite 11 MVP and Oklahoma star to South Carolina’s leader and then a draft pick of the New Orleans Saints. But reducing Mike to a supporting character in someone else’s story misses the bigger picture. He’s the person who drove Spencer to early-morning practices, helped him sort through scholarship offers, and stood in front of microphones answering tough questions when his son’s college situation became national news.
Public records and reputable biographies describe him as a regional sales representative for Citizens Automobile & Recreation Finance, based in the Phoenix area. Away from that day job, he has put in years working with youth football—first as a player himself and later as a coach and mentor in local leagues. In interviews and features about Spencer, he consistently comes across as a grounded, practical voice: proud of his son’s talent, but focused on long-term decisions, work habits, and real-world responsibilities.
Early Life and Background
Unlike his famous son, Mike Rattler has kept most of his early life off the record. Credible profiles note that he was born in the United States and is of African-American heritage, but they stop short of giving an exact birth date or hometown, sometimes describing him only as being born in the “late 1960s.” That privacy is telling in itself: at a time when many sports families turn every moment into content, the Rattlers have clearly drawn a line between what belongs on social media and what stays in the family.
What does emerge from the scattered details is a picture of someone raised with an emphasis on discipline, consistency, and accountability. Later commentary on his parenting mentions how much he stressed sticking with commitments, showing up on time, and respecting coaches and teachers—traits that usually come from learning those lessons the hard way when you’re young.
Education and Work Path
One of the more concrete details known about Mike Rattler’s own journey is his education. He completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas in 1991, a detail repeated across multiple biographical write-ups. That timeline helps explain why, when he later dealt with college coaches and athletic departments on Spencer’s behalf, he understood campus culture from the inside. He wasn’t simply a parent visiting new stadiums; he had already lived the lecture halls, deadlines, and pressures that come with university life.
Professionally, Mike carved out a path in sales and finance. Today he works as a regional sales representative for Citizens Automobile & Recreation Finance, a company involved in financing cars and recreational vehicles. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the kind of stable, performance-driven career that rewards relationship-building and long-term thinking.
Family Life With Susan Konkel Rattler
If you look at the Rattler story only through the lens of recruiting rankings and draft slots, it’s easy to forget that all of it is happening inside an ordinary-looking family structure. Mike Rattler is married to Susan Konkel Rattler, a long-standing second-grade teacher who has spent more than three decades in the classroom. She describes herself online as a wife, Christian, and “Football & Volleyball Mom,” which is a simple summary of how much of the family’s time and energy has revolved around their two children’s sports careers.
Together they have two kids: Spencer, born in Phoenix on September 28, 2000, and Olivia, born in 2002 and now a Division I beach volleyball player at Missouri State University. From early on, that meant the Rattler household was built around school, practice schedules, road trips to tournaments, and weekends swallowed by game days. In photos and features that include the whole family, Mike usually looks like the steady center of that swirl—someone comfortable being in the background, but very much present at the big moments.
The Connection Between Mike Rattler and Spencer Rattler
The public always sees the finished product on the field: the quarterback reading defenses, the highlight throws, the record-setting seasons. But Spencer Rattler’s development begins much earlier, and Mike Rattler is woven through that entire story. He introduced Spencer to multiple sports as a child—baseball, basketball, and football—before it became clear that quarterback was the lane where his son’s competitive fire and natural arm talent matched up best.
By the time Spencer was breaking Arizona high school passing records and starring on the Netflix series QB1: Beyond the Lights, Mike had already spent years as a youth coach and sideline problem-solver. Parents of other players often describe him as the kind of dad who would stay late after practice, throw extra routes, or talk through a game that went badly.
Handling Pressure, Benching, and the Oklahoma Exit
The most publicly scrutinized moment in the father–son story came when Spencer lost his starting role at Oklahoma in 2021 and the national conversation turned to what he should do next. In an interview with OU Daily, widely re-reported by college football outlets, Mike Rattler explained that the family would “keep our options open” and evaluate everything after the season—whether that meant staying at Oklahoma another year, transferring, or turning pro if the opportunity was there.
Those comments weren’t the emotional reaction of an angry parent; they read like a considered response from someone used to thinking in terms of contracts, negotiations, and multi-year plans. At the same time, they showed how comfortable Mike was stepping in front of the story to protect his son. While social media debated whether Spencer should leave immediately or wait, Mike’s message focused on the present: finish the season, support the team, and then make a decision based on real options rather than message-board noise.
Supporting the South Carolina Reset and NFL Dream
After Oklahoma, Spencer transferred to South Carolina, where he rebuilt his draft stock, led statement wins, and eventually played well enough to earn a shot in the NFL. Around that transition, Mike and Susan Rattler took a deliberate step back from public conversation. ESPN reported that Mike told the network via text that he and his wife had chosen not to do interviews, even while expressing excitement about the Gamecocks and their new opportunity.
When the New Orleans Saints selected Spencer in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it completed a long arc that started with backyard throws and youth league practices. Behind that arc, Mike Rattler was again performing familiar roles—helping with the logistics of draft prep, navigating the transition to a new city, and offering the sort of honest feedback you only get from a parent who has watched every snap from middle school onward.
Faith, Values, and Home Life
While the family doesn’t turn religious discussion into a public brand, both Mike and Susan are frequently described as Christians, and Susan’s own social media bio mentions her faith directly. That framework shows up quietly rather than loudly: in how they talk about gratitude for opportunities, in the emphasis they put on humility even as their son became a national figure, and in the way they consistently frame success as a product of both talent and stewardship.
Day-to-day, their home base remains in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, even as Spencer’s career has pulled him across the country. That anchoring helps explain why the Rattler story feels less like a Hollywood script and more like a long-running family project: a father, mother, and two kids learning to live with attention while keeping their sense of who they were before the cameras arrived.
Net Worth and Financial Picture
Because Mike Rattler isn’t a public company executive or on-air personality, hard numbers about his income and assets simply aren’t available. A few online biographies estimate his net worth in the low six-figure range, based on the typical earnings of a long-time regional sales representative and his years in that role, but those are clearly labeled as estimates, not disclosures. What is documented much more clearly is his son’s financial trajectory: Spencer’s rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints and the college-era NIL deals that preceded it.
For practical purposes, the more important financial story isn’t a specific number—it’s the way Mike Rattler has handled the business side of his son’s career. Reports from sports outlets note that he sat in on NIL conversations, helped interpret offers, and in some cases spoke directly to media outlets when money rumors around transfer destinations surfaced. That background in sales and finance gave the family an internal advisor who understood contracts, leverage, and the downside of chasing a quick headline at the expense of long-term stability.
Final Thoughts: The Quiet Legacy of Mike Rattler
In the end, the untold story behind Spencer’s rise is that Mike Rattler has treated his son’s unusual life as a series of very normal responsibilities. He shows up, asks questions, listens, and then helps Spencer choose the option that keeps doors open rather than closing them too quickly. From youth leagues in Arizona to quarterback rooms in Oklahoma, South Carolina, and now New Orleans, that steady presence has been a constant through ups, downs, hype cycles, and harsh criticism.
For fans who only see the box scores on Sunday, it can be easy to forget the families who stand just off camera. Learning who Mike Rattler is—his work, his values, his choices—adds depth to the story of a quarterback still writing his own legacy. It shows that behind every big-name player, there is usually someone like Mike: not chasing the spotlight, but quietly shaping the path that leads there.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Mike Rattler?
Mike Rattler is the father of NFL quarterback Spencer Rattler and works as a regional sales representative for Citizens Automobile & Recreation Finance in the Phoenix area. He is also a former youth football coach who played a significant behind-the-scenes role in guiding Spencer’s athletic and academic decisions.
What does Mike Rattler do for a living?
Mike works in the auto and recreation finance industry as a regional sales representative, a role that involves managing dealer relationships and helping customers secure financing for vehicles.
How is Mike Rattler connected to Spencer Rattler’s football journey?
From youth leagues onward, Mike coached, mentored, and supported Spencer, introducing him to multiple sports before football became the priority. He helped evaluate scholarship offers, managed media attention during high school and college, and participated in key decisions around Oklahoma, South Carolina, and the NFL Draft.
Who is Mike Rattler’s wife?
Mike is married to Susan Konkel Rattler, a longtime second-grade teacher with more than three decades of classroom experience. She has been a constant presence at games for both Spencer and their daughter Olivia, and often describes herself as a dedicated “Football & Volleyball Mom.”
How many children does Mike Rattler have?
Mike and Susan have two children: Spencer Rattler, born in 2000 and now a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and Olivia Rattler, born in 2002 and a Division I beach volleyball player at Missouri State University. Both children grew up in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and have turned their early sports experiences into high-level athletic careers.
Where does the Rattler family live?
The Rattler family’s home base is in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area of Arizona, where Spencer attended Pinnacle High School and first gained national attention. Even as Spencer’s career has taken him to Oklahoma, South Carolina, and now New Orleans, Mike and Susan have largely remained rooted in Arizona.
Did Mike Rattler play football himself?
Yes, multiple biographical features note that Mike played football in his younger years and later became involved as a coach in youth leagues and school programs. That background helped him teach Spencer the technical and mental aspects of the quarterback position from an early age.
What is known about Mike Rattler’s education?
Mike completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1991.
Is Mike Rattler active in interviews and media?
Mike has done selective interviews, especially during key moments like Spencer’s benching at Oklahoma, when he clarified that the family would keep their options open for the future. At other times, such as during Spencer’s move to South Carolina, he and Susan chose not to do interviews, preferring to let their son’s play speak for itself.
What is Mike Rattler’s ethnicity and nationality?
He is an African-American man and an American citizen, a background that contributes to Spencer’s mixed racial and ethnic heritage often discussed in media coverage.
How much is Mike Rattler worth?
Publicly available information does not provide an exact figure for Mike Rattler’s net worth. Some online biographies estimate his finances in the low six-figure range, but those numbers are based on typical earnings for his role in sales and should be treated as educated guesses rather than confirmed data.
Why is Mike Rattler important to Spencer Rattler’s success?
Mike’s importance lies in the combination of emotional support, practical guidance, and business sense he has provided throughout Spencer’s life.
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