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Former NFL quarterback Jeff Rutledge begins his first season with the Cardinals. He was hired on 2/6/07 to coach the same position he played. A veteran of 14 years in the league with three different teams (LA Rams 1979-81, NY Giants 1982-89, Washington Redskins 1990-92), Rutledge was tutored during his playing days by coaching legends Bear Bryant, Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells. He is entering his first NFL coaching position after spending the last five seasons as the head coach and athletics director at Nashville’s Montgomery Bell Academy.
Rutledge, a two-time Super Bowl winner, played on three different teams that made the Super Bowl (Rams-XIV, Giants-XXI, Redskins-XXVI) over the course of his career. He also led Alabama to a national championship in 1978. Originally a 9th round selection by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1979 NFL Draft, Rutledge played with the Rams for three seasons as the backup, including in Super Bowl XIV in his rookie season, before being traded to the New York Giants in 1982.
Serving as a backup quarterback for the Giants under Phil Simms, Rutledge’s tenure with the Giants lasted eight seasons while playing in 67 games including Super Bowl XXI before signing as a free agent with the Redskins in 1990. He played three seasons with the Redskins as a backup quarterback to Mark Rypien and as a holder, appearing in both roles in Super Bowl XXVI. Rutledge engineered the greatest comeback in Redskins history in 1990 when he replaced Stan Humphries in the 3rd quarter with the Redskins trailing Detroit 35-14. Rutledge led the Skins back 41-38 overtime victory by completing 30 of 42 passes for 363 yards, earning him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
He finished his NFL career with 274 completions on 526 attempts for 3,628 yards and 16 touchdowns in 117 games played (11 starts).
Rutledge started his coaching career in 1999 as the quarterbacks coach at Vanderbilt University. While at Vandy, Rutledge was part of a staff that consisted of current Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and defensive line coach Ron Aiken. After leaving Vanderbilt, Rutledge stayed in Nashville and worked at Montgomery Bell Academy for five years. While at MBA, Rutledge’s teams won two state championships (2002, 2003) and he finished with an overall record of 41-17. MBA finished the 2003 season with a national ranking of 12th in the country.
An all-SEC quarterback at Alabama (1975-78), Rutledge led the Crimson Tide to the 1978 national title under the legendary Bryant with a victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. He finished his collegiate career with 30 touchdown passes, leaving Alabama as the then all-time leader surpassing Joe Namath.
Born on January 22, 1957 in Birmingham, AL, Rutledge was a standout prep player in football, basketball and baseball at Banks High School before earning his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Alabama. His father Jack, was a minor league player in the Cubs organization (1950-52).
Rutledge and his wife Laura have three children, Brooks, Christen, and Meg. | 