Meanwhile, Woodlawn High School stands majestically in the same location on First Avenue North, just like it has since 1922, and the football team is still sending players to the NFL, including Chris Davis, the Auburn cornerback who was the last-second hero of the 2013 Iron Bowl. "Everywhere Tony lined up, there was Greg," Rutledge remembers. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). "If we needed him to throw the football, I knew he could definitely do that. 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.. 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. 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". It was Grefseng's only touchdown catch of his Banks career. ''I talked to Bill after practice Saturday,'' said Rutledge. Jeff Rutledge. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. [3][6], Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009.[3]. His most notable play with the Giants came in Super Bowl XXI in the third quarter. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. 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 "That Banks-Woodlawn game our senior year, that was all about Tony and Jeff Rutledge," Hendrix says. "That's what I always wanted. He and his wife, Johnnie, who was his high school sweetheart at Woodlawn and his college sweetheart at Alabama, still live in the same house they bought in 1983. A Valuable Commodity. It wasn't so much the football I wanted. At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the Giants. Woodlawn, meanwhile, had a nice streak going, too, winning 11 in a row since it fell to Banks 17-7 in 1973. He had to meet with Coach Bryant to get him to sign off on it, too. 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. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. "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. "It was a miserable way to end your season.". White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. 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. It's tough for me to tell her to wait. By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. "We both started to laugh.". William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. 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. 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. Finished career at Alabama has the school's leading passer, surpassing Joe Namath. 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. After playing in three college all-star games following his senior season, Nathan fell behind in his classes, and he was worried he might flunk out his spring semester. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. I was so elated that he did it, and I thank the Lord that he did.". "That was neat, that she had just come up (for the game), not knowing anything that was going to happen years later," Rutledge 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". 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. "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. 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. "People drove up, saw the lines outside and just went on by. #Jeff #Rutledge #Wiki Biography #Age #Height #Wife #Net #Worth #Family Tags: Age Biography Family Height Jeff Net Rutledge Wife Wiki Worth "But at that time, I had a concussion. Today, Ken O'Brien, the Jets' starter, broke a toe. 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. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). "Somewhere, there is a videotape of that game," Grefseng says. Everybody else was gone home for Christmas vacation, and I was like, 'What am I doing 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. 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. "He wasn't too pleased," Nathan recalls. 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. A few years ago, though, Nathan realized one thing was missing in his life. The film builds to a finale where Woodlawn meets crosstown rival Banks, quarterbacked by Jeff Rutledge, who would eventually play at Alabama with Nathan. fdar charting for blood transfusion $ 0.00 Cart. of development through completion. 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. RELATED:See who plays Tony Nathan in 'Woodlawn'. Efforts to reach him for this story were unsuccessful. It hardly seemed like a swan-song performance. said Rutledge. "They do a great job of keeping us involved in what's going on and keeping us involved with the fans. "There is no doubt in my mind that the delay in the game helped us,'' Banks' Grefseng says. 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. How old is Jeff Rutledge? His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. On the bus ride to Legion Field, the Woodlawn players knew it was a big deal when they got a police escort to the game, which was also a first for them. ", During his senior season at at Woodlawn High School in 1974, Tony Nathan was a Parade All-American and featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd." 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. A couple of weeks before their game, Banks' White alerted the Legion Field staff to expect a monster crowd. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). 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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. ''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. His wife, Laura, a former Miss . "I did accept Christ in my life at that time, they say," Nathan says. There's something always new at the courthouse.". Welcome. Gerelds, recognizing Nathan's underutilized potential, thought he needed to have the ball in his hands more often and moved him to offense his junior year.Before the start of that 1973 season, something else happened that changed the Woodlawn football team's fortunes. They all came to see Tony.". . "There wasn't anybody that came to see me play or any of the other guys. Wasn't it 14-0? 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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Gosh, that game was 40 years ago, which is unbelievable.". "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. Something like that. 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. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. I still get chills thinking about it.". He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. "They all looked at me like, 'OK, don't you think it's your time?'" A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. 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. . Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. He completed 30 of 42 p*es for 363 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards for the game-tying touchdown with only 24 seconds remaining. I did believe. "We had a ball. We have estimated 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. "It was supposed to be a quick pass but somebody got in there and almost sacked Jeff. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. "I wanted some kind of meat to serve him," William Nathan remembers. Jeff Rutledge Biography. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Newton and football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant stand behind Tony Nathan as he signs his scholarship to attend the University of Alabama. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state *les at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Now he is not sure what he is. We were playing in front of 20,000 people regularly, so we were getting some big crowds.". As depicted in the upcoming "Woodlawn" movie, droves of players, Nathan included, stepped forward to commit their lives to Christ that night. Jeff is an experienced communications and public affairs professional with more than a decade working in government and the private sector. 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. , money, salary, income, and assets. Hoover, Alabama. 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. "It's . 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. Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. So, how much is Jeff Rutledge worth at the age of 65 years old? The kids are disappointed. Manage Settings View Jeff Rutledge results in Munford, AL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. ", RELATED:Remembering the 1974 Woodlawn-Banks game. "I wanted to go home. ", 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." We had a blast. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. My parents raised me that way. 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. Place kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh of the New York Giants kicks a field goal during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Giants Stadium on December 15,. If all that notoriety affected Nathan, none of his teammates could tell. Jeff Rutledge takes a breather during the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. 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 is a member of famous Player with the age 65 years old group. "And then they told me that that guy (Nathan) was an All-American basketball player, and he wasn't going to be playing football. "We just sat up there and watched," Martin, now retired, recalls. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge. [1], Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama,[2][3] where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The week of the game, Jerry Stearns, who was an assistant coach at Woodlawn that year and later became the head coach there, recalls selling advance tickets at the school, something he says never happened before. When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. And I don't know when that will be.'' We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. "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 . But there was one catch. 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. 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". Jeff was in the flooring business and owned Vintage Wood Floors, Inc. It's been very interesting. "I don't even know if he realized how good he was back then. The next year, they got Bert Jones. "And when they were picking teams, I wanted to get picked. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. 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. Jeff Rutledge date of birth: January 22, 1957. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). He has established himself as a trusted advisor providing advice and direction to organizations in some of the most heavily regulated . Senior Consultant. ", Tony Nathan breaks free with his tear-away jersey flying in the breeze. "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. 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. team protected 37 players during the off season and made the unprotected players available to other teams. I can tell you, Tony had no trouble with his blocking.". "'And you told me you didn't want me to play this game. "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. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. 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. The two schools were just 10 minutes and less than four miles apart. The attendance was out of this world.". 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). "The Woodlawn guys were like maniacs, and they were roaring all through their pre-game warm-ups. In those days, the Banks-Woodlawn rivalry was like the Alabama-Auburn of Birmingham high school football, but maybe just a little friendlier. Some were easier. Newton stood behind Nathan as he sat next to his parents and got his picture taken signing his letter of intent. 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. No One Else Wanted Him. The Nathans go to the same church, New Testament Baptist Church, with his former Alabama and Miami teammate McNeal and his wife, Rhonda. There was no mortgage. "He looked like he had a jet pack on his back," Baumhower recalls. Those were the days when running backs wore tear-away jerseys, which ripped when opposing players tried to bring down the ball carrier by grabbing ahold of his jersey. At 65 years old, Jeff Rutledge height not available right now. "It was an amazing thing to see all of those kids -- who grew up together and went to church together, played at Wahouma Park together - in that room together that night," Stearns says. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. | Learn more about Jeff . 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. . Nathan says. are hard-pressed to remember the final score. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. Tony Nathan, left, goes to midfield for the pre-game coin toss with his Woodlawn High School teammates Mike Allison, center, and Peyton Zarzour, right. Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana, an only child. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. There are 90+ professionals named "Jeff Rutledge", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. "But this particular year, we were both undefeated going in. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. He is not dating anyone. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Discover Jeff Rutledge's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. I wanted him to have his degree. I do believe. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. Our defensive game plan was awesome.". "I said, 'What's wrong, Mike, they didn't have crowds like this at Locust Fork?'" 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. Relationships We have no records of past relationships for Jeff Rutledge. "It really did.". 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. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Jeff Rutledges income source is mostly from being a successful Player. Many of the players on both teams grew up playing pee-wee football together at East Lake and Wahouma parks, and as teenagers, they hung out together at Eastwood Mall. After seven seasons at Vanderbilt, Rutledge became the head coach at Montgomery Bell Academy, a school for seventh to 12th grade boys in Nashville. Alabama Crimson Tide football yearly statistical leaders, History of the New York Giants (19791993). 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. By Frank Litsky, Special To the New York Times. . New York Giants. Tony Nathan, left, talks with Jeff Rutledge, right, after the famous Woodlawn-Banks high school football game at Legion Field in 1974. Menu Log In Sign Up Meanwhile, Tuscaloosa was just an hour away, and one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game, Alabama's Paul "Bear" Bryant, had the Crimson Tide not just rolling again, but steamrolling. Following his senior season at Alabama in 1978, Banks' Jeff Rutledge went on to play 13 years in the National Football League. 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. The night after that chat, in an exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rutledge completed all 8 of his passes for 156 yards. Commissioner Rutledge, a native of Newport, graduated from Newport High School and earned a B.S. Some of the choices Jeff Rutledge made during his journey to become an NFL assistant coach were difficult. 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. ", The Banks players huddle around head coach Shorty White during the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. Jeff Rutledge, Nathan's old rival from Banks, was now his teammate, quarterbacking the Tide. We definitely love Miami. The final count was an estimated 42,000 people -- roughly 10,000 more than the previous record crowd at the Crippled Children's Classic between Phillips and Woodlawn, also at Legion Field, in 1950. See the article in its original context from. And when the game finally did kick off a half-hour or so later, the crowd kept pouring in well into the second quarter. A title search shows that Mr. Rutledge and his wife bought a property in Naramata for $1.15-million on Oct. 31, 2016.
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