Quarterback Jeff Rutledge played 13 seasons for 3 teams. "Some of the other running backs didn't want to be that lead blocker. All rights reserved (About Us). . Rutledge's road back to NFL as Cards QB coach filled with ups and downs Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Jeff Rutledge Net Worth That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. An estimated 42,000 people poured into Legion Field that night -- a state high-school attendance record that still stands -- but as big as the game was, just as many people were curious to see its two superstars, Woodlawn's Nathan and Banks' Rutledge. Coach Bill Parcells will probably keep three this year, but there is no guarantee. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. Perhaps that epic 1974 showdown at Legion Field between Birmingham high-school heavyweights Woodlawn and Banks would have been just another Friday night football game. Jeff Rutledge, who played at Alabama after he graduated from Bank High School, is pictured here during the 1976 Alabama-Notre Dame game in South Bend, Ind. He completed 30 of 42 passes for 363 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards for the game-tying touchdown with only 24 seconds remaining. Once he started playing, though, she never let him quit. How old is Jeff Rutledge? Jeff Rutledge Stats | The Football Database After working as an assistant at Vanderbilt University and with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL, Rutledge is now the head coach at Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Ariz. After four years at Alabama, Woodlawn's Tony Nathan was drafted in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, where he played for nine seasons under Don Shula, including two Super Bowls. And in the memories of those who were there. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 January. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. "What are you doing with that grip?'" The other day, Rutledge called his wife and told her to wait. "That was neat, that she had just come up (for the game), not knowing anything that was going to happen years later," Rutledge says. "Before Bo, there was Tony," Ragland says. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. By Friday, the excitement was at full-tilt boogie. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Tony Nathan talks about racism, 'Woodlawn' Tony started playing pickup basketball games with some older boys in the neighborhood, and he was good enough that he was recruited to play in a rec league at Huffman Park. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. ''The first game Phil Simms goes down, they've got to get a quarterback. Their two-year reign as 4A state champs also ended with a 12-0 shutout loss to eventual champion Homewood in the first round of the playoffs. But there was one catch. Charles Tillman Rutledge, Jr. Boiling Springs, SC Charles Tillman Rutledge, Jr., 80, of 2558 Old Furnace Road, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2019, at Spartanburg Hospital For Restorative Care . Some of the choices Jeff Rutledge made during his journey to become an NFL assistant coach were difficult. William Nathan, who worked as millwright at Connors Steel in Birmingham, made his son Tony his first football by stitching together a strip of Naugahyde and stuffing it with rags and cotton balls. By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. Banks came in riding a 34-game unbeaten streak, its last loss coming to Woodlawn, 21-18, three years before. 1-ranked Huffman Vikings -- Woodlawn fans started calling Nathan "Touchdown Tony" and began clamoring for pictures and autographs. Drafted in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft (246th overall pick) by the Los Angeles Rams, Rutledge played in 14 NFL seasons from 1979 to 1992 for three different teams. After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. Jeff Rutledges income source is mostly from being a successful Player. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979. ", Alabama basketball coach C.M. We felt like we were probably the two best teams in Alabama, but only one of us was going to get to go to the state. It took him 36 years, but Nathan kept that promise to his coach. "He wasn't too pleased," Nathan recalls. In May 2013, Rutledge was hired by Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona as a full-time staff member and also to lead the football program. That same night, Banks' 35-game unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end when Rutledge blew out an ankle and the banged-up Jets lost 34-27 to West End. Sports Illustrated featured him in its "Faces in the Crowd" section after he ran for 228 yards and scored seven touchdowns against Ramsay, and late in the season, along with Banks quarterback Jeff Rutledge, he was named a Parade All-American. "Greg was not very big but he had a huge heart and he gave Tony fits that night. Discover Jeff Rutledge's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. While Nathan ran for 112 yards and scored a touchdown that night, the Colonels lost to the Jets 18-7, with Rutledge completing eight of nine passing for 185 yards and a touchdown. ", Tony Nathan breaks free with his tear-away jersey flying in the breeze. So I had never beaten them.". (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. ''It's an odd world, isn't it?'' "Including his wife. It was Grefseng's only touchdown catch of his Banks career. All three of Nathan's daughters have their college degrees - Nichole from South Florida and Natalie and Nadia from Alabama - as does his wife. Wasn't it 14-0? We will update Jeff Rutledge's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. fdar charting for blood transfusion $ 0.00 Cart. Jeff Rutledge - Senior Consultant - McMillan Vantage Policy Group "We let them run and play," Tony's father, whom the family calls "Pops," says. "I get to meet a ton of people -- lawyers, defendants, victims -- and they all are different," Nathan says. View the profiles of professionals named "Jeff Rutledge" on LinkedIn. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. So it was almost like it was the state championship game that night.". I don't remember that whole week. Nathan says. It wasn't so much the football I wanted. The night after that chat, in an exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rutledge completed all 8 of his passes for 156 yards. | Learn more about Jeff . "I think (defensive lineman) Marty Lyons could play today. "It was the thrill of my life," Louise Nathan says. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. "We just sat up there and watched," Martin, now retired, recalls. Unbeknownst to either one of them at the time, she would later marry one of the game's biggest heroes. Wore number 17 for the New York Giants. On fourth down with a yard needed, he was sent by head coach Bill Parcells for a potential decoy play. On fourth down with a yard needed, he was sent by head coach Bill Parcells for a potential decoy play. It all built up to Nov. 8, 1974, when Woodlawn, which had won 11 games in a row, met its old nemesis Banks, which was riding a 34-game unbeaten streak, at Legion Field. In the spring of 2007 Rutledge got his first NFL coaching job when he was hired as quarterbacks coach with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, with direct charge over Kurt Warner. He is currently the head football coach at Valley Christian High School (Chandler, Arizona) in Chandler, Arizona. The easygoing Nathan had the ideal temperament for the job, Newman told him. Jeff Rutledge Biography. Rutledge and his wife had just moved into their dream house in Atlanta, but felt it was the best job available. Jeff Rutledge was born on January 22, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. "We both started to laugh.". (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). In 2006, the Birmingham Board of Education decided to close the deteriorating middle school, too, saying it was unsafe and an eyesore. Jeff Rutledge Biography | HowOld.co "We were down 24-zip and nothing was going right, and that was the play that gave us the spark to come back. "They had the best running back in the state and we had the best quarterback," former Banks head coach George "Shorty" White remembers. That was Laura Holmes, whom Rutledge later met when his Fellowship of Christian Athletes adviser suggested that he ask her to go with him to the team banquet following his freshman year at Alabama. Jeff Rutledge Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge Position: QB Throws: Right 6-1 , 195lb (185cm, 88kg) Born: January 22 in Birmingham, AL (Age: 66-029d) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2x SB Champ 8 17 10 SUMMARY Career G 117 AV 8 QBrec 2-7-1 Cmp% 52.1 Yds 3628 Y/A 6.9 TD 16 Int 29 FantPt 151.0 Jeff Rutledge Overview Game Logs Career Postseason 1979 1980 "I told him, me being so far behind, I didn't want to flunk out. We had a blast. He was a backup in Super Bowl XIV as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, he was a backup to Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI as a member of the New York Giants, and was a backup in Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins. 6'1", 195 lbs. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). New York Giants. Woodlawn High School had a much longer history that went back to 1916, when the community of Woodlawn was annexed into Birmingham. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. And since Banks and Woodlawn were in the same region -- and both were competing in 4A, which was then the largest high school classification in the state -- only one of them would advance. . It hardly seemed like a swan-song performance. He would just tear it off and throw it up in the crowd. "We were just talking about it. Although he was mostly used as a back-up, he has two Super Bowl rings - one from the New York Giants and another from the Washington Redskins. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. American football player and coach (born 1957) Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is a former American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. That 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game would be Shorty White's 100th win at Banks, and his last. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. "If we needed him to throw the football, I knew he could definitely do that. DailyPress.com. Alabama Crimson Tide football yearly statistical leaders, History of the New York Giants (19791993). William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. American football player and coach (born 1957), Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterbacks, Washington Commanders starting quarterbacks, 1978 Alabama Crimson Tide footballAP national champions, Alabama Crimson Tide football yearly statistical leaders, History of the New York Giants (19791993), "High School Football Database - All-American (Parade 1974)", "Jeff Rutledge Named as Football Head Coach - Valley Christian High School", "NFL vet Rutledge returning as high school coach", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Rutledge&oldid=1134094507, High school football coaches in Tennessee, Coaches of American football from Alabama, Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 00:15. Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. Mike Perez was waived Tuesday, leaving Rutledge as the only other quarterback on the roster. In those days, the Banks-Woodlawn rivalry was like the Alabama-Auburn of Birmingham high school football, but maybe just a little friendlier. "Well, Shula knew what talent was," Nathan says. So they put the pressure on him, too. He will miss Saturday night's exhibition game against the Giants at Giants Stadium. And Then There Were Three. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Another one of football's coaching greats, Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins, drafted Nathan in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft, and even though it was a long way from Birmingham or Tuscaloosa, Miami was like a home away from home for Nathan. I remember it was good we didn't start when we were supposed to because they were at their peak. The quiet Nathan, who teammates say tried to shy away from all of the attention, was one of Birmingham's first superstar black athletes in a city that was still adjusting to integration. We were playing in front of 20,000 people regularly, so we were getting some big crowds.". "His jersey would just be hanging on him," Woodlawn teammate Brad Hendrix says. "The other thing about the wishbone, if you were a truly good back in the wishbone, you had to block, too,'' says Murray Legg, who, as a defensive back on those Alabama teams, often went up against Nathan in practice. A backup for most of his career, he was a member of the New York Giants team that won a Super Bowl in Super Bowl XXI and the Washington Redskins team that won Super Bowl XXVI. Last year, Nathan was inducted into the Dolphins' Walk of Fame, immortalized alongside such legendary Dolphins as Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka and Nick Buoniconti in the sidewalk outside Miami's Sun Life Stadium. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. The athletic teams at Banks adopted the name Jets, and in 1961, the Alabama Air National Guard loaned the school a Korean War-era F-86D Sabre jet, which was painted in the school colors of Columbia blue and scarlet and prominently displayed on campus, making it an inviting target for practical jokers from rival schools. Jeffrey Hunter - Biography - IMDb A few years ago, though, Nathan realized one thing was missing in his life. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. He has been a Giant since 1982, when he was obtained from the Los Angeles Rams after Phil Simms suffered a season-ending knee injury. "So it was a great lesson for me. But she's been through this every year. Ragland recalls. ", RELATED:Remembering the 1974 Woodlawn-Banks game. I do believe. "They all looked at me like, 'OK, don't you think it's your time?'" Banks quarterback Jeff Rutledge, who would later lead Alabama to a national championship and play on two Super Bowl-winning teams, and Woodlawn running back Tony Nathan, who would become Rutledge's teammate at Alabama and go on to play in two Super Bowls of his own, were the marquee attractions. Something like that. Jeff was in the flooring business and owned Vintage Wood Floors, Inc. ''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. Welcome. He is currently single. Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, grew up in a house divided. Rutledge, first, and then Stan Humphries were knocked out of the game, leaving emergency quarterback Brian Mitchell (a kick returner and former college quarterback) to finish the game. They made great souvenirs, too, and fans mobbed him after the games to get a piece of Nathan's jersey. So the magic from that night continues to live on. Birmingham police guessed another 20,000 gave up and went back home when they saw the long lines. in Plant Science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a Masters in Agronomy (Weed Science) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. That game meant that Rutledge got the nod to start the following week on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was to become infamously known as the "Body Bag Game". On signing day, both Bryant and Alabama basketball coach C.M. Menu Log In Sign Up His finest moment as a professional player came when as a member of the Redskins he came off the bench in a game versus the Detroit Lions in 1990. Or was it 17-7? Woodlawn never beat Banks during Nathan's three years on the varsity. "This was before Bo Jackson," Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, says. I still get chills thinking about it.". Later, while at Belmont High School in Mississippi, Gerelds was diagnosed with brain cancer, and he died in 2003, coaching right up until the end. The kids are disappointed. Jeff Rutledge - Facts, Bio, Favorites, Info, Family 2021 - Sticky Facts "I think back about our team, and I think about the players who played then and who could play now in terms of their strength and speed and ability," Legg says. I can tell you, Tony had no trouble with his blocking.". ''I wanted to know what he was thinking. "There wasn't anybody that came to see me play or any of the other guys. Almost assuredly, Nathan would not be the featured character in the upcoming movie "Woodlawn," which opens nationwide on Oct. 16, and most definitely, he would not have written a book, "Touchdown Tony: Running With a Purpose," which comes out Tuesday. fatal car accident in tulare county / how to endorse a check for mobile deposit wells fargo / jeff rutledge wife. The stoic Nathan even teared up as walked across the Coleman Coliseum stage to receive his diploma from outgoing UA President Judy Bonner. Jeff Rutledge, Nathan's old rival from Banks, was now his teammate, quarterbacking the Tide. From Woodlawn, linebacker Rocha McKinstry signed with Auburn, and Hendrix, the defensive end, played with the University of North Alabama and later, the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. (Photo courtesy of Banks High School Facebook page). "We have, I think, one of the best alumni associations in the NFL," Nathan says. Jeff Rutledge - Pro-Football-Reference.com ", In the lunchroom, the Woodlawn students would break into impromptu pep rallies, standing in their chairs and yelling, "Rip Jets, rip Jets, rip those Sugar Jets." About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. "It was supposed to be a quick pass but somebody got in there and almost sacked Jeff. printers and related vendors. Experienced backup quarterbacks can be valuable when injuries strike. "I don't even know if he realized how good he was back then. 66. I told Coach Gerelds that I didn't want him to be anywhere near the ball.". Jeff Rutledge: Bear Bryant promised a national championship at Alabama "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job. And much to the surprise of probably everybody who was there that night -- fans, players, coaches, cheerleaders and sportswriters -- neither one of the teams would go on to win it all that year. If all of the gates had been open, they would have had 60,000 people.". I did believe. Based in Dallas, Texas with over 20 years of experience in concept, design, art direction, and production of print and web materials including: magazine / newspaper ads, brochures, collateral, direct mail, email graphics, logos, signage, and web graphics. Jeff Rutledge Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. The next year, they got Bert Jones. An experienced communications and public affairs professional, with a record of effective strategic planning, outreach and engagement. WE BUY HOUSES ANY PRICE ANY CONDITION CALL 205 966 4880 NOW. They got in the car, and she drove him back to the football field, where she told Woodlawn coach Tandy Gerelds to do whatever he needed to discipline her boy for skipping practice, just as long as he was allowed back on the team. Woodlawn, meanwhile, had a nice streak going, too, winning 11 in a row since it fell to Banks 17-7 in 1973. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. "We were out there playing in the mud and the rain," Woodlawn's Ragland says. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children. Jeff Rutledge date of birth: January 22, 1957. . "But at that time, I had a concussion. 3 QUARTERBACK, https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/24/sports/uneasy-lies-the-head-of-no-3-quarterback.html, Frank Litsky, Special To the New York Times. He played college football at Alabama, where he was the team's starting quarterback for their 1978 National . ", Tony Nathan runs behind his Miami Dolphins teammate Jeff Toews in a game against the New York Jets. "I had some professors walk up to me and say, 'Hey, we were around when you were playing.'. A creative problem solver with refined approach to crisis communications and media management. The next Christmas, Santa Claus brought Tony his first official football. Tony Nathan holds his youngest brother, Cedric, after he announces in December 1974 that he will attend the University of Alabama. ''That may make the Giants think,'' said Rutledge. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. So he signed again with the Giants, but for less than the $400,000 he made last year. "I just felt like I was the oldest cat in the house," he says. Jeffery Joseph Rutledge | Obituaries | koamnewsnow.com