T. J. Rushing facts for kids

Terrall Brent "T. J." Rushing (born June 8, 1983) is an American football coach and a former player. He currently works as a special assistant to the head coach at Auburn University. As a player, he was a cornerback (a defensive player) and a return specialist (a player who catches kicks and runs them back).

T. J. Rushing was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played for the Colts for four seasons. He helped the Colts win a Super Bowl when they beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Before playing professionally, he played college football at Stanford University.

Early Life and High School Years

T. J. Rushing grew up in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. He went to Pauls Valley High School. While there, he was a very active athlete. He earned a "letterman" title in three different sports: football, basketball, and track. This means he was a key player on the varsity teams for these sports.

College Football Career at Stanford

Rushing played college football at Stanford University. He became one of the best kick returners in the school's history. By the end of his time at Stanford, he had run back kicks for a total of 1,409 yards.

During his junior year, he was recognized for his excellent work on special teams. He was named First Team All-Pac-10, which is a big honor for college players in that conference. Rushing scored three touchdowns in his college career by returning kickoffs. He even scored the first and last kickoff return touchdowns of his senior season.

Professional Football Career

Before joining the NFL, T. J. Rushing showed off his athletic skills at a "Pro Day" event. He was measured at 5 feet 10 and 3/8 inches tall and weighed 180 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds and could jump 40 inches vertically. These numbers showed he was a very fast and agile player.

Playing for the Indianapolis Colts

When T. J. Rushing played for the Indianapolis Colts, his main role was on special teams. He was a kick and punt returner. This means he was responsible for catching kicks from the other team and running them back as far as possible.

In 2007, he even scored a touchdown by returning a punt against the Oakland Raiders. Unfortunately, he spent the entire 2008 season on the injured reserve list. This list is for players who are too hurt to play. After the 2009 NFL season, the Colts decided not to offer him a new contract as a restricted free agent.

Time with Other Teams

After leaving the Colts, Rushing signed with the Detroit Lions on August 18, 2010. However, he was released by the team a few weeks later on September 4, 2010.

Later, on April 19, 2012, Rushing signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a team in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was released during their training camp on June 17, 2012.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, T. J. Rushing moved into coaching.

Arizona State University

In 2016, Rushing was hired as a defensive backs coach for Arizona State University. He helped coach the players who play in the defensive backfield.

University of Memphis

In January 2018, Rushing became the defensive backs coach for the University of Memphis football team.

Texas A&M University

Rushing continued his coaching journey in January 2020. He was hired as the defensive backs coach for Texas A&M University.

Auburn University

Most recently, on June 20, 2024, T. J. Rushing joined Auburn University. He was hired as a special assistant to the head coach. This role helps the head coach with various tasks and strategies for the team.