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. Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. 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. How old is Jeff Rutledge? Since then, Rutledge has been mostly a backup. "I wanted some kind of meat to serve him," William Nathan remembers. 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. Rutledge lived up to his star billing that night, completing 9 of 10 passes for 188 yards and that touchdown to Grefseng. Wasn't it 14-0? "I said, 'If we win (the next game) and they win, we are both going to be undefeated when we play each other, and it's going to be the biggest high school crowd there ever will be,'" White recalls. 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. When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. It helped, too, that both Banks and Woodlawn were also blessed with some enormously talented athletes who weren't named Rutledge or Nathan and who also went on to play in the SEC and the NFL. I was so elated that he did it, and I thank the Lord that he did.". We definitely love Miami. Jeff Rutledge Biography. "He looked like he had a jet pack on his back," Baumhower recalls. The sports teams at Woodlawn became known as the Colonels and the school colors were green and gold, the same colors that student pranksters sometimes painted that Sabre jet at nearby Banks. "But this particular year, we were both undefeated going in. "And then they told me that that guy (Nathan) was an All-American basketball player, and he wasn't going to be playing football. "I was running down the baseline trying to follow my guy around, and, all of a sudden, they set a pick and this guy's elbow hit me in the eye and that cured my basketball desire," Nathan says. "But I was raised in the church anyway. Bryant sealed the deal by promising Tony he would get a shot at playing basketball at Alabama, too. It wasn't anything boastful for him. It's tough for me to tell her to wait. Louise Nathan roasted a raccoon that her husband, an avid hunter whom friends called "Coon Man," had bagged on one of his late-night coon hunts, and they invited Bryant to have dinner with them. "I didn't have to worry about cutting grass because they played all the time.". ''It's an odd world, isn't it?'' Gerelds' plan to move Nathan to running back was paying off handsomely, too.Sometime during that junior season -- maybe it was after he ran for 231 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-12 upset of the No. 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. "It really did.". After seven seasons at Vanderbilt, Rutledge became the head coach at Montgomery Bell Academy, a school for seventh to 12th grade boys in Nashville. Only two practice sessions remain at the Fairleigh Dickinson campus here. Although it was just one moment in time, all of their names -- as well as those of Greg Muse, Jerry Murphree, Bob Grefseng, Denny Ragland, Brad Hendrix, Jerry Stearns and many others -- will always be linked to that November night in Legion Field 40 years ago. Denny Ragland, who would become the Woodlawn starting quarterback during Nathan's senior season in 1974, knew something was up during freshman football practice, when most of the basketball team came out just to see what the 14-year-old Nathan could do on the football field. I knew it even before that, when Plan B came along.'' We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He will miss Saturday night's exhibition game against the Giants at Giants Stadium. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. From his perch in the press box, Birmingham News sportswriter Wayne Martin could see the pedestrian bottleneck at the south entrance of Legion Field, as well as an unbroken strand of headlights from the long line of cars on Graymont Avenue, which was backed up all the way to downtown. Jeff Rutledge. Louise Nathan, though, never was wild about her seeing her son get hit. . There was no mortgage. In his teens, he acted in productions of the North Shore Children's Theater and, from 1942 to 1944, performed in . Jeff Rutledge's net worth 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. 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. 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). 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The following Friday night, Woodlawn closed out its season on a cold, rainy night at Fair Park, defeating Carver 12-0. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "We would go to the board of education and get tickets and we would be sold out in 30 minutes to an hour," Stearns says. They attended some of the same churches and dated some of the same girls. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). I wanted him to have his degree. 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. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Once the game did start, Banks built an 18-0 lead on a pair of 21- and 16-yard touchdown runs by fullback Jerry Murphree and a 32-yard TD pass from Rutledge to Grefseng, who also doubled as a back-up tight end. (Linebacker) Barry Krauss could play today. If Roberts misses Saturday night's game, as seems likely, Damian Johnson will move to left guard and Brian Williams will replace Johnson at right guard. Manage Settings White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. Wore number 17 for the New York Giants. Contact . A few years ago, though, Nathan realized one thing was missing in his life. Banks High School - named for school superintendent L. Frazier Banks - opened in 1957 in Birmingham's South East Lake neighborhood and fielded its first football team three years later. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. "So it was a great lesson for me. We prayed together, and from then on, I respected them and they respected me. He was a two-time all-state guard on the Woodlawn basketball team, and as a centerfielder and first baseman on the baseball team, he got drafted by the Montreal Expos. "There wasn't anybody that came to see me play or any of the other guys. Woodlawn High School had a much longer history that went back to 1916, when the community of Woodlawn was annexed into Birmingham. Jeff Rutledge date of birth: January 22, 1957. Fast learner, critical thinker with an eye for efficiency, and generally fun guy. They know they're going to get presents when they see me. 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. So I had never beaten them.". "I knew some of those guys, and I'm like, 'Why would y'all be out here in the hot sun watching freshman football?'" "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. of development through completion. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. ", Tony Nathan strikes a Heisman-like pose as he tries to avoid a linebacker. Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children. Established network of influencers, political staff, department officials and media, supporting sound execution of public affairs initiatives. A couple of weeks before their game, Banks' White alerted the Legion Field staff to expect a monster crowd. After Thursday morning's practice, the Giants will leave for their annual welcome-home lunch at the Sheraton Centre. Once he started playing, though, she never let him quit. 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.". Newton stood behind Nathan as he sat next to his parents and got his picture taken signing his letter of intent. 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 talked to Bill after practice Saturday,'' said Rutledge. The regular season game was played in . "He's very respected here," McNeal says of his old teammate. The attendance was out of this world.". I bought them last week. But, Knoxville, too, was a little too far from home for Nathan. I told Coach Gerelds that I didn't want him to be anywhere near the ball.". Center Dwight Stephenson and defensive back Don McNeal, who were a year behind him, would join the Dolphins the next year. You could call it inspiration, you could call it whatever you like. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Some were easier. "To be a 16-, 17-year-old kid, I had never seen anybody run and do the things Tony did athletically. When the other team did not pick up on Rutledge, he took the snap and did a sneak up the middle for yardage that gave the Giants a first down that would eventually lead to a go-ahead score. Woodlawn students used to yell, ''Rip those Sugar Jets," which was a reference to this brand of cereal. Stearns recalls. Not once, but twice, both teams were sent back to their respective locker rooms to allow the crowd to file into the stadium. It was Geralds, Nathan would say later, who talked him out of quitting football, and for that, Nathan remained forever grateful. 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. "It was supposed to be a quick pass but somebody got in there and almost sacked Jeff. The name still resonates in the state, especially since Jeff Rutledge was homegrown (Birmingham) and in 2011 was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. His most notable play with the Giants came in Super Bowl XXI in the third quarter. 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. Plan B was the system under which each N.F.L. (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. After the Tide slipped to an uncharacteristic 9-3 in Nathan's sophomore season -- Alabama's worst record in his four years there -- the team bounced back to go 11-1 and finish runner-up to national champs Notre Dame in 1977 and to go 11-1 again and win it all in 1978. 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. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. So it was almost like it was the state championship game that night.". So by the time he arrived at Woodlawn High School to start the ninth grade, his reputation as a wizard of the basketball court preceded him. So, how much is Jeff Rutledge worth at the age of 65 years old? He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. [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. [2] Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. Jeff Rutledge. It's been very interesting. 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. Newman serves as a criminal court judge in Miami-Dade County, and six years ago, he hired Nathan to be a bailiff in his courtroom. They came out in such numbers that the start of the game had to be delayed twice so folks could work their way through the jammed Legion Field turnstiles. After Friday morning's practice, they will break camp and return to Giants Stadium, where practices are closed to the public. #Jeff #Rutledge #Wiki Biography #Age #Height #Wife #Net #Worth #Family Tags: Age Biography Family Height Jeff Net Rutledge Wife Wiki Worth He was indeed a basketball guy, but Tony Nathan would be playing football for a long time. I said, 'You have to wait until you see me.' ", RELATED: Turning back the clock at Legion Field. On signing day, both Bryant and Alabama basketball coach C.M. I don't remember that whole week. 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. Experienced backup quarterbacks can be valuable when injuries strike. Ragland, the former Woodlawn quarterback, recently watched an ESPN documentary about another Birmingham-area sports legend, Bessemer's Bo Jackson, and it reminded of that 14-year-old kid he first met at freshman football practice. [3][6], Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009.[3]. After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. "I said, 'What's wrong, Mike, they didn't have crowds like this at Locust Fork?'" Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. The kids are disappointed. The purchase date corresponds with most of the transfers from Mr. Slaughter's account, according to the suit. 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. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. Simms is the Giants' starter and Jeff Hostetler is No. How tall is Jeff Rutledge? Today, Ken O'Brien, the Jets' starter, broke a toe. Woodlawn grads included Harry Gilmer, who was an All-American at Alabama and the MVP of the 1946 Rose Bowl, and Bobby Bowden, who coached Florida State to two national championships on his way to becoming the winningest coach in college football history. When the other team did not pick up on Rutledge, he took the snap and did a sneak up the middle for yardage that gave the Giants a first down that would eventually lead to a go-ahead score. Though Rutledge was available, no other team signed him. We just couldn't put the icing on the cake.". Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? 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". "We don't have any of the highlight reels from the '70s that they have from Bo Jackson's day, but Tony did some phenomenal things on the football field and on the basketball court. About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. 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. A Valuable Commodity. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. 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. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. 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. So after his freshman football season -- while his football teammates were enjoying their break -- Nathan was on the basketball court the next day, trying to break into an Alabama lineup that featured Leon Douglas, Reggie King, T.R. Former Buyer/Planner at Rutledge Properties LLC. So it's tough for her to hear that she should wait. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. If all of the gates had been open, they would have had 60,000 people.". Jeff Rutledges income source is mostly from being a successful Player. 100.00 Down Payment and Houses with No Credit Check. All three of Nathan's daughters have their college degrees - Nichole from South Florida and Natalie and Nadia from Alabama - as does his wife. "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job. So I've never come to camp feeling confident I'd be in place. 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. And Then There Were Three. Mike Perez was waived Tuesday, leaving Rutledge as the only other quarterback on the roster. 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). 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". One of them said on the phone, 'What did you get me?' By Frank Litsky, Special To the New York Times. "This was before Bo Jackson," Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, says. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. ', "She said, 'No, but even more so, you're not going to be a quitter. "You go through life carrying that (lesson): If you start it, you better try to be the best at it, and finish what you've got to finish," he adds. "They all looked at me like, 'OK, don't you think it's your time?'" The game, though, was way bigger than its two stars, a pair of Parade All-Americans who were among the most sought-after high school recruits in the country. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Tony is a very revered guy here in our community, here in our church community.". We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. "Everywhere Tony lined up, there was Greg," Rutledge remembers. Woodlawn, meanwhile, had a nice streak going, too, winning 11 in a row since it fell to Banks 17-7 in 1973. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. So you go all out and do what you can do just to fit in.". TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. After games, fans mobbed Nathan to get a piece of his jersey. 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. 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. He is currently single. ''You gear up for a time when you're going to get together as a family. Internal communications and employee engagement pro with a tech focus and multi-disciplinary background. Out on the field, one of the players, a linebacker who also filled in as back-up tight end, caught the only touchdown pass of his high-school career, in what was by far the biggest game of his career. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. Unbeknownst to either one of them at the time, she would later marry one of the game's biggest heroes. Gosh, that game was 40 years ago, which is unbelievable.". (Birmingham News file) In the 1980s,. QB Born: January 22, 1957 in Birmingham, AL Drafted: 1979 Rnd 9, Pick 246 by LA: College: Alabama: Career Stats Career Stats Game Log Game Log Splits Splits. ', "I said, 'I will do that. "It was always the biggest game of the year, for both sides," Rutledge says. "It was one heck of a game. Like Jackson, Nathan excelled at just about any sport he played. "That's what I always wanted. ", Tony Nathan breaks free with his tear-away jersey flying in the breeze. 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. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. 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. ", Tony Nathan runs behind his Miami Dolphins teammate Jeff Toews in a game against the New York Jets. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. We have estimated View Jeff Rutledge results in Munford, AL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. He was just a humble high school athlete. But there was one catch. ''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. , money, salary, income, and assets. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge. ", Tony Nathan prepares to take a hand-off from quarterback Jeff Rutledge at the University of Alabama. 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. 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. William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. Although Woodlawn had history on its side, Banks, by 1974, had the upper hand on the football field, winning state titles in 1965, 1972 and 1973 - all under Shorty White's leadership. "Coach Tandy Gerelds was a fine man and a fine coach, and he had a lot to do with a lot of players on that team coming to know the Lord," Brad Hendrix, a senior defensive end on the '74 team, says. Now he is not sure what he is. 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. "But it didn't bother me that I was forced to go to Woodlawn because a lot of my friends were at Woodlawn, too.". 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. The stoic Nathan even teared up as walked across the Coleman Coliseum stage to receive his diploma from outgoing UA President Judy Bonner. In the days leading up to the game, both The Birmingham News and the Birmingham Post-Herald played it up as not only a clash of the titans between Banks and Woodlawn but also a Rutledge vs. Nathan showdown. '", So just think, if Louise Nathan hadn't put her foot down, maybe no one would have ever heard of "Touchdown Tony.". 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. "You wouldn't have known him to be any different from any of the other players on the team," Hendrix, who went on to play briefly with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers, says. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). "It's been home a long time," Nathan says. "And you're not going to be the first.". Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Banks alums included Jimmy Sidle, an All-American quarterback at Auburn; Johnny Musso, an All-American running back at Alabama; and David Cutliffe, who became the head coach at Ole Miss and later, Duke.