That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. "But I was raised in the church anyway. Most likely, Tony would not have been drafted by the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and regrettably, he also would have missed out on starting in two Super Bowls, as well as being part of one of the most famous plays in Dolphins' history. "I didn't have to worry about cutting grass because they played all the time.". "We had a ball. I still get chills thinking about it.". After games, fans mobbed Nathan to get a piece of his jersey. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. He was a devoted husband and father and his favorite hobby was fishing. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. . (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). 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). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. "If we needed him to throw the football, I knew he could definitely do that. And to himself. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). "It's . "This was before Bo Jackson," Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, says. "I wanted to go home. They've been married for going on 37 years now, with three children and nine grandkids. Rivals in high school, Nathan and Rutledge were teammates for four years at Alabama. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. White is now retired and living with his wife, June, in Helena. "To be a 16-, 17-year-old kid, I had never seen anybody run and do the things Tony did athletically. 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". He is now a bailiff for Miami-Dade County Court Judge Edward Newman, a former Dolphins teammate. In 2006, the Birmingham Board of Education decided to close the deteriorating middle school, too, saying it was unsafe and an eyesore. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Quarterback Jeff Rutledge played 13 seasons for 3 teams. Nathan is flanked by his parents William and Louise Nathan. It's been very interesting. Mike Perez was waived Tuesday, leaving Rutledge as the only other quarterback on the roster. "'And you told me you didn't want me to play this game. Electronic version of this article was lost during the computer . . Former Realtor at ReallivingAdavanceRealty. In overtime, he hit Art Monk with a vital 40-yard pass on third and 15 to help set up Chip Lohmiller's game-winning field goal. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Some of those who were in the stands that night can't say for sure who won, and even many of those who were on the fieldare hard-pressed to remember the final score. It wasn't so much the football I wanted. "It was weird," he says. Anyone can read what you share. And when that happened, that movement, I was touched in my heart to do so again.". Something else special happened that week, too. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 63 years old? "It's been home a long time," Nathan says. Menu Log In Sign Up When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. "All three kids were raised here. In the 1980s, Banks High School -- home of those mighty Jets for all those years -- was closed as part of a city schools reorganization and it became Banks Middle School. All three of Nathan's daughters have their college degrees - Nichole from South Florida and Natalie and Nadia from Alabama - as does his wife. Another, a little fireplug of a linebacker who had moved to Birmingham from Texas the year before, became the surprise defensive star of the game. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. 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,[5] with direct charge over Kurt Warner. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. "Before I signed to go to Alabama, Coach Bryant told me, 'Well, look, you can try out (for basketball), but if you're not within the top six, you've got to come back out for spring ball.'''. 6' 1" (185 cm) How much does Jeff Rutledge weigh? Jerry McDonald, a split end and defensive back, turned down college football offers and decided to play baseball instead after he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished his college career with a 33-5 record as a starter, which currently ranks him as the University of Alabama's seventh all-time winningest quarterback. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. Jeff Rutledge Position: QB Birthdate: January 22, 1957 College: Alabama Draft: Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 9th round (246th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft Stats Gamelogs 300-Yard Passing Jeff Rutledge Stats Jeff Rutledge career stats with the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Washington Redskins. Ragland recalls. All rights reserved (About Us). He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Efforts to reach him for this story were unsuccessful. There was no mortgage. Where was Jeff Rutledge born? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. This Korean War-era Sabre jet, which was loaned to Banks High School in 1961, was repainted in school colors and prominently displayed on campus. Since then, Rutledge has been mostly a backup. "But it didn't bother me that I was forced to go to Woodlawn because a lot of my friends were at Woodlawn, too.". Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. They attended some of the same churches and dated some of the same girls. Jeff Rutledge was born on 22 January, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, is an American football coach and former quarterback. "We dedicated our season to the glory of the Lord, and we played at a much higher level those two years (1973-74) than we probably should have. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. Once he started playing, though, she never let him quit. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. "I'm 57 years old, and I'll run into people that I haven't seen in years and years and years and they talk about that game, that they were there. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). 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. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. In overtime, he hit Art Monk with a vital 40-yard pass on third and 15 to help set up Chip Lohmiller's game-winning field goal. [3][5][6] Rutledge led Montgomery Bell Academy to a 41-17 record from 20022006, with two state titles in 2002 and 2003 and a #15 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 poll in 2003. Probably, Tony Nathan never would have gone on to play for Paul "Bear" Bryant at the University of Alabama, and without him, it's possible the Crimson Tide might not have won that 1978 AP national championship. said Rutledge. I wasn't too sure about him running the wishbone at that time, but he did a very good job and it was great to play with him.". He will miss Saturday night's exhibition game against the Giants at Giants Stadium. "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job and the recruiters did their jobs to get him to go to Alabama," Nathan says. He is a member of famous Player with the age 65 years old group. They all came to see Tony.". "When people say Tony Nathan, their ears go up. Stearns recalls. 1972 His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. . "The Woodlawn guys were like maniacs, and they were roaring all through their pre-game warm-ups. 66. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I will make you that promise. So it's tough for her to hear that she should wait. Welcome. Rutledge led Montgomery Bell Academy to a 41-17 record from 20022006, with two state *les in 2002 and 2003 and a #15 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 poll in 2003. From Banks, defensive lineman Freddie Knighton signed with Alabama, running back Jerry Murphree went to LSU, and linebacker Bob Grefseng played at Ole Miss. With the arrival of head coach Tandy Gerelds in 1971, though, and the emergence of Nathan, who had a breakout junior season in 1973, Woodlawn started to level the playing field. "There is no doubt in my mind that the delay in the game helped us,'' Banks' Grefseng says. Newton stood behind Nathan as he sat next to his parents and got his picture taken signing his letter of intent. Gosh, that game was 40 years ago, which is unbelievable.". 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. He started taking online courses through the University of Alabama's Bama by Distance degree program, and this past May, at 58, he graduated. I did believe. Today, Ken O'Brien, the Jets' starter, broke a toe. That spiritual awakening not only inspired the team, but it reverberated throughout the entire school, defusing some racial tension that Nathan says he felt his first couple of years at Woodlawn. (Photo courtesy of Banks High School Facebook page). There are 90+ professionals named "Jeff Rutledge", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. I think Tony could definitely play today. Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. See the article in its original context from. Jeff Rutledge Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. of development through completion. "I played with older guys, and I wanted to be able to play on their level," Nathan says. His parents met at the University of Arkansas, and when he was almost four his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Commissioner Rutledge, a native of Newport, graduated from Newport High School and earned a B.S. "I remember going back and forth to get more tickets to sell. 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. "And you're not going to be the first.". Drafted in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft (246th overall pick) by the Los Angeles Rams,[2] Rutledge played in 14 NFL seasons[3][5] from 1979 to 1992 for three different teams. 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. So, when Tony was in the 10th grade, and he came home one day and told his mother he had left the Woodlawn High School football team, she replied, in no uncertain terms, no, he had not. Manage Settings I told Coach Gerelds that I didn't want him to be anywhere near the ball.". 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "It was Banks-Woodlawn. 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. 100.00 Down Payment and Houses with No Credit Check. He would just tear it off and throw it up in the crowd. Contents 1 Early years 2 College career 3 Playing career 4 Coaching career 5 Personal life 6 See also 7 References Early years Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. "I told him, me being so far behind, I didn't want to flunk out. Rutledge would never start an NFL game again but he did see spot duty in relief of returning starter Mark Rypien in the Redskins' 1991 Super Bowl Championship season, including some playing time in the last game of the regular season, again against the Philadelphia Eagles. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. 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. 6'1", 195 lbs. 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. Bryant paid several visits to the Nathan home, and he often brought with him an entourage of assistants and past and current Tide players, including Joe Namath, Johnny Musso and Ozzie Newsome. We definitely love Miami. I don't know exactly when, but I'll do it.'". No One Else Wanted Him. Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. "Each gate had four openings in it for four lines of people," Garrett says, "but it still obviously wasn't enough.". 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. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 38 years, Traci (Ellis) Rutledge and their four children, Hannah, Jacob, Marilynn, and Haylee Rutledge; his two granddaughters, Amelia and Ramona Banerjee as well as his many nieces, nephews, and their families-all of whom he cherished greatly. About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. 1957 "That's why, for two years, we had a lot of focus and attention on Woodlawn. The family will receive friends from 12:00-1:30 pm, Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at . I knew it even before that, when Plan B came along.'' Trivia (4) Quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams (1979-1981), New York Giants (1983-1989) and Washington Redskins (1990-1992). (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). After Nathan got out of coaching, another one of his former Dolphins teammates, guard Ed Newman, told him he had the perfect job for him. Tandy Gerelds left Woodlawn after the 1975 season to join his father in the family insurance business, but in 1984, he returned to coaching at Deshler High School in Tuscumbia. Not once, but twice, both teams were sent back to their respective locker rooms to allow the crowd to file into the stadium. ''That may make the Giants think,'' said Rutledge. "They had the best running back in the state and we had the best quarterback," former Banks head coach George "Shorty" White remembers. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Forty years later, the details have gotten fuzzier and the legends have grown larger. 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. "There wasn't anybody that came to see me play or any of the other guys. "That's a scary thought now," the 58-year-old Nathan says of what might have been. But she's been through this every year. ''I talked to Bill after practice Saturday,'' said Rutledge. 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. "It was one heck of a game. William Nathan asked, referring to Bryant's bag. "Almost everybody who played in that (1974) game, you may not have been close friends with them, but you knew who they were," Grefseng, the Banks linebacker, says. 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. . He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge. "His jersey would just be hanging on him," Woodlawn teammate Brad Hendrix says. He had 274 completions in 526 attempts for 3,628 yards and 16 touchdowns. ''My wife is frustrated,'' said Rutledge. "All I had ever seen of football games was everybody falling on each other and piling on each other," she says. 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". ", Tony Nathan prepares to take a hand-off from quarterback Jeff Rutledge at the University of Alabama. He played college football at Alabama, where he was the team's starting quarterback for their 1978 National . WIFE'S SUGGESTION OF RETIREMENT LOST ON RUTLEDGE. His breakout moment came against Montgomery's Robert E. Lee Generals, when, late in the game, he scooped up a fumble and ran 38 yards for the winning touchdown.
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