Rod Rutherford
Encyclopedia
Rod Rutherford 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.
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
.
Rutherford led the Panthers to consecutive winning seasons as the starter in 2002 and 2003, winning All-Big East
honors for both efforts. 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. 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
. 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. He finished his collegiate career with 458 completions in 840 attempts, passing for 6,725 yards and 60 touchdowns.
. In 2008 he signed to play for the Erie RiverRats of the American Indoor Football Association where he selected to the all-AIFA squad after leading Erie to a 7-2 record in his nine regular-season starts. In 2010, he signed once again with Erie (now known as the Explosion, formerly the Storm and RiverRats) for his second tour of duty.
under head coach
Dave Wannstedt
at his alma mater. Then, upon the conclusion of his 2008 season playing in the AIFA, Rutherford was hired as defensive backs coach
at Saint Vincent College
. Rutherford returned to the University of Pittsburgh as a defensive assistant coach in 2009.
In 2011, Rutherford was hired by Curt Cignetti
to coach wide receivers for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. Rutherford has spent time on both the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
rosters, mostly as a practice squad player. Rutherford entered the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
when he was signed by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He won a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Steelers the following year in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
as a practice team player.
High school
Rutherford attended Perry Traditional AcademyPerry Traditional Academy
Perry Traditional Academy is a high school in the northern neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Perry is one of ten high schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.-Statistics:...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and was a letterman in football. Rutherford was named Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
"Athlete of the Year" in both 1998 and 1999. He was heavily recruited by a number of Division I schools, including Pitt
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
, Penn St
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
, Miami (FL)
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
, Michigan St
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
, Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
, and Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
.
College years
At PittUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
Rutherford led the Panthers to consecutive winning seasons as the starter in 2002 and 2003, winning All-Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
honors for both efforts. 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. 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
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
in the Insight Bowl
Insight Bowl
The Insight Bowl is an NCAA college football bowl game played in Arizona since 1989. From 1989 to 1999, the games were played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The game moved to Phoenix in 2000 and was played at Chase Field until 2005. After the 2005 playing the Insight Bowl moved to Sun Devil Stadium...
and a #18 ranking in the final Coaches Poll
Coaches Poll
The USA Today Coaches' Poll is the current name for a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and Division I college basketball teams....
. 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
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
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
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
season in a victory against Penn St. He finished his collegiate career with 458 completions in 840 attempts, passing for 6,725 yards and 60 touchdowns.
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.Non-NFL Years
Without an offer to remain in the NFL, Rutherford spent 2007 in NFL Europa with the Hamburg Sea DevilsHamburg Sea Devils
The Hamburg Sea Devils were an American football team that began play in NFL Europa from 2005 to 2007. They played their home games at Hamburg's AOL Arena . They played their first game on April 2, 2005 losing 24-23 to the Cologne Centurions...
. In 2008 he signed to play for the Erie RiverRats of the American Indoor Football Association where he selected to the all-AIFA squad after leading Erie to a 7-2 record in his nine regular-season starts. In 2010, he signed once again with Erie (now known as the Explosion, formerly the Storm and RiverRats) for his second tour of duty.
Coaching
After his 2007 season with Hamburg ended, Rutherford spent the remainder of the year as a volunteer quarterbacks coachQuarterbacks coach
A quarterbacks coach is a coach in charge of the quarterbacks in gridiron football. The quarterbacks coach typically operates under the offensive coordinator on a team's coaching staff....
under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Dave Wannstedt
Dave Wannstedt
Dave Wannstedt is current Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers Coach for the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League. He was most recently head coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team, a position he held for six seasons. Wannstedt is also the former head coach of the Miami...
at his alma mater. Then, upon the conclusion of his 2008 season playing in the AIFA, Rutherford was hired as defensive backs coach
Defensive backs coach
A defensive backs coach or secondary coach is a coach in charge of the safeties and cornerbacks in gridiron football. This position is very common in the CFL, NFL and college football programs. Some common titles are: safeties coach, cornerbacks coach, secondary coach, secondary/safeties coach,...
at Saint Vincent College
Saint Vincent College
Saint Vincent College is a four-year, coeducational, Roman Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, located about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It was founded in 1846 by Boniface Wimmer, a monk from Bavaria, Germany. It was the first Benedictine monastery in the...
. Rutherford returned to the University of Pittsburgh as a defensive assistant coach in 2009.
In 2011, Rutherford was hired by Curt Cignetti
Curt Cignetti
Curt Cignetti is an American football coach who is currently the head coach for the IUP Crimson Hawks of NCAA Division II, a position previously held by his father Frank Cignetti, Sr.-Playing career:...
to coach wide receivers for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania
IUP Crimson Hawks football
The IUP Crimson Hawks football program represents Indiana University of Pennsylvania in college football at the NCAA Division II level. The Crimson Hawks play their home games at George P. Miller Stadium in Indiana, Pennsylvania....
.