Ryan Leymone Bethea was born on March 26, 1967, in Dillon, South Carolina.
[1] He attended Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina.
[4] In September 1988, Bethea was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL supplemental draft.
[4] On October 20, the Star Tribune reported that the Vikings had two weeks to either activate Bethea or release him or they would lose his rights.
[9] Bethea played for the Charlotte Rage from 1992 to 1993, recording 118 receptions and 24 touchdowns on 1,330 receiving yards.