Jeff Rutledge

#8 · New York Giants

Retired 15 Years In The NFL

🏆 2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXVI)

Jeff's

HAIR

8.6

HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Jeff Rutledge or the Giants?

Jeff Rutledge Legacy

HEYTC AI

Jeff Rutledge was the unflappable gunslinger under Bear Bryant who piloted Alabama to the 1978 national title, capping a 33-5 run that still ranks him among the Crimson Tide's winningest QBs. A ninth-round afterthought, he became the ultimate Super Bowl backup—Rams, Giants, Redskins—earning rings in XXI and XXVI without snapping a regular-season start. His pro legend? That wild 1990 'Skins comeback vs. Detroit, torching the Lions for 363 yards and a game-tying TD scamper with 24 ticks left. From Tuscaloosa royalty to high school fields and Cardinals QB coach, Rutledge embodied football's gritty underdog soul.

Jeff Rutledge Rating Breakdown

Season

Non-Factor

Fantasy

Average

Playoffs

Non-Factor

Overall

Cooked

7 years with the Giants

Jeff Rutledge Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,628 Pass Yards

16 Touchdowns

29 INTs

0.0% Comp %

8.6 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Jeff Rutledge

How does Jaxson Dart compare to Jeff Rutledge?

Jaxson Dart's got the Giants starting gig now, but stacking him against Jeff Rutledge feels like pitting a rookie hotshot against a Super Bowl lurker—Rutledge backed up to rings with the '86 Giants and '91 Redskins, tossing 3,628 yards and 16 TDs over 13 years while holding kicks like a ninja. Dart's flash is fun, but Jeff's quiet grit won hardware.

Is Jeff Rutledge in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Jeff Rutledge's not in Canton—never made a Pro Bowl, stayed the ultimate backup across 14 seasons with the Rams, Giants, and Redskins. But those two rings from Super Bowl XXI and XXVI? That's hardware most starters dream of. Guy was Bear Bryant's Alabama champ QB, yet Hall voters chase starter stats over sneaky impact.

What is Jeff Rutledge doing now in 2026?

By 2026, Jeff Rutledge's long retired from the gridiron, likely chilling in Tuscaloosa circles after his playing days and brief coaching stints. No big broadcasting gigs or charity headlines popping lately—he's the ghost of 'Bama glory, maybe mentoring kids or tailgating SEC games, keeping that low-key winner vibe alive off the field.

How would Jeff Rutledge perform in today's NFL?

Rutledge in today's pass-happy NFL? His 52.1% completion and 61.4 rating scream early '80s grit, but modern rules—no bump-and-run, quicker drops—might juice him to 65% with that gunslinger arm from his '90 Lions comeback (30-for-42, 363 yards). Still, he'd be a savvy vet backup, not a starter in this air raid circus.

How does Jeff Rutledge compare to Eli Manning?

Eli Manning lapped Jeff Rutledge as Giants QB—Eli's 59.81 rating towers over Rutledge's 8.6 in Big Blue games, with two more Super Bowl MVPs to boot. But both pocketed rings backing winners; Jeff was the understudy to Simms, Eli the ice-veined closer. Rutledge's the forgotten key on those '80s keys, Eli the face.