[2] In March 2009, Payne was announced as the defensive line coach for Florida Atlantic University.
The Bengals had released him during the 1999 season knowing he was injured, which caused Payne to file a grievance, which was settled.
[citation needed] Over the course of his career, Payne had twelve surgeries to repair his numerous football-related injuries.
In 2006, Payne co-authored a 2006 book called "Centered by a Miracle" (Sports Publishing, ISBN 1-59670-145-5) with his friend and sportswriter Steve Rom.
The publisher describes the book as follows: "After Steve was diagnosed with leukemia, Rod left his job as co-host of a daily sports radio talk show in Ann Arbor, his first post-football career, to help rally his friend back to health.
[12] Payne was selected the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Class 3A-2A-1A Coach of the Year in 2007 after he led the Lions to a 7–3 record following his 1–9 first season at Westminster in 2006.
[2] In 2008, Rod assumed the head coaching duties at Felix Varela High School in Kendall, Florida after a 2007 season where they posted a 3–7 record.
[15] Payne was hired to coach Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton, Florida for the 2012 season.