Rod Rutherford (born December 12, 1980 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American football coach and former quarterback. Rutherford has spent time on both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers rosters, mostly as a practice squad player. Rutherford entered the NFL when he was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers the following year in Super Bowl XL as a practice team player.
Rutherford attended Perry Traditional Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was a letterman in football. Rutherford was named Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Athlete of the Year" in both 1998 and 1999. He was heavily recruited by a number of Division I schools, including Pitt, Penn St, Miami (FL), Michigan St, Indiana, and Syracuse.
College Years
At Pitt Rutherford led the Panthers to consecutive winning seasons as the starter in 2002 and 2003, winning All-Big East honors for both efforts.[2] However, early in his career he contributed in many other ways. After redshirting during his freshman season Rutherford was still fourth on the depth chart at quarterback, but his athleticm and desire earned him playing time as a kick returner, receiver, and running a few option plays from behind center.[1][3] After chipping in situationally during his first two seasons Rutherford finally became the starter during his junior year in 2002. The 2002 season culminated with a 38-13 win over Oregon State in the Insight Bowl and a #18 ranking in the final Coaches Poll.[4][5] The following year Rutherford had an even better season. The expectations were high for the Panthers as they reached a #9 ranking early in the season, but inconsistencies, primarily on defense, prevented the Panthers from living up to the season's lofty expectations. Despite the Panthers' struggles Rutherford still led the team to a winning record and a Continental Tire Bowl appearance. That season Rutherford set the single-season record for most passing yards in a season at the Pitt with 3,679. Even with all of that success at quarterback the one play for which he will most likely be remembered by Pitt fans is a 66-yard touchdown reception he had during his freshman season in a victory against Penn St.[1][3] He finished his collegiate career with 458 completions in 840 attempts, passing for 6,725 yards and 60 touchdowns.
Professional Years
NFL Years
Rutherford was undrafted upon entering the NFL, but was signed to the Carolina Panthers, where he spent the 2004 season on the practice squad. The following year saw Rutherford return to his hometown of Pittsburgh where he spent another season on a practice squad, this time with the Steelers. While with the Steelers he earned a Super Bowl ring as the Steelers won Super Bowl XL.
[edit]Non-NFL Years
Without an offer to remain in the NFL, Rutherford spent 2007 in NFL Europa with the Hamburg Sea Devils. In 2008 he came back to the US to play for the Erie RiverRats of the American Indoor Football Association. He has been signed for the 2009 expansion Wheeling Wildcats of the CIFL.
Coaching
After his 2007 season with Hamburg ended, Rutherford spent the remainder of the year as a volunteer quarterbacks coach under head coach Dave Wannstedt at his alma mater.[2] Then, upon the conclusion of his 2008 season playing in the AIFA, Rutherford was hired as defensive backs coach at Saint Vincent College.[6] Rutherford returned to the University of Pittsburgh as a defensive assistant coach in 2009.[7]
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