Rod Rutherford

American football player and coach (born 1980)

Rod Rutherford (born December 12, 1980) is an American football coach and former quarterback. Rutherford spent time on both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers rosters, mostly as a practice squad player. Rutherford entered the National Football League (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 over the Seattle Seahawks.

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 NCAA Division I schools, including Pittsburgh, Penn State, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Indiana, and Syracuse.

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. 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 athleticism 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.

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. 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, a position he held for five seasons through 2015. He is now the quarterbacks coach at Lake Nona High School.