Johnny Ray Hatley (March 16, 1930 – February 10, 2001) was an American football player and coach, and rodeo performer.

He played college football at Baylor, Corpus Christi, Southwest Texas JC and Sul Ross and was selected in the 16th round (186th overall) of the 1953 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

From 1966 to 1969, he was a player, coach, executive, and administrator in the Texas Football League (TFL) with the Odessa-Midland Comets and Fort Worth Texans/Braves.

[1][2] Hatley attended Uvalde High School and was an all-around athlete, competing in track, baseball, basketball, and football.

A 220-pound football player, Hatley also runs the 100 [metres] in 10.7 [seconds] and high jumps five feet, seven inches, in addition to his shot put duties, where he is a consistent 50-footer.

"[3] In May 1948, Hatley won the state high school shot put championship with a throw of 52 feet, five more than second place.

[13][14] After joining the Bears, he "immediately attracted the attention of line coach Phil Handler because of his speed and agility" and was trained to be the team's left offensive guard.

[15] Backfield coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paddy Driscoll said of Hatley: "That guy can get out ahead of a halfback in interference better than any man I've seen lately.

[17] Hatley ended up playing in ten regular season games, nine as a starter, as the Bears finished with a record of 3–8–1, fourth place in the Western Conference.

[18][19][a] Hatley started the 1954 season with the Bears and was reported as "the sensation of the camp so far," having "won every sprint race to date" despite gaining 15 pounds.

[18] In 1955, he appeared in all twelve games and started eleven, as the Cardinals finished the season fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4–7–1.

[31] In 1966, Hatley became the defensive coach,[32] general manager, president, and a player for the newly formed Odessa-Midland Comets of the Texas Football League (TFL).

[38] In 1968, Hatley led Fort Worth (renamed the Braves that year) to a 10–2 record, placing second in the Western Division but narrowly missing the playoffs.

"[43] In the next years he won steer wrestling competitions in Odessa, El Paso, Uvalde, Pecos, and Waco, Texas; Palm Springs, California; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Spokane, Washington.