TJ Rushing

T.J. Rushing, a Stanford alum and Super Bowl champion with the Indianapolis Colts, joined Todd Graham’s coaching staff as defensive backs coach on January 15, 2016.
 
“T.J. will be a great asset for us on the field, in recruiting, and around the community,” ASU head coach Todd Graham said when he announced the hire of Rushing. “He understands the importance of being a well-rounded student-athlete, and knows what it takes to excel at the highest level as he was an all-conference-caliber player at Stanford and spent five years in the National Football League. He’s also shown he’s a proven winner by being a part of a Super Bowl champion, two American Football Conference championships with the Indianapolis Colts and a Rose Bowl win with Stanford (in 2015).”
 
Rushing graduated from Stanford University in May 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
 
Rushing rejoins the Sun Devils after he served on Coach Graham’s staff for two seasons (2012-13), including one season as a defensive graduate assistant working with the secondary and one year in a defensive quality control role.
 
“I’m honored and excited for the opportunity to again work with Coach Graham and the Sun Devil Football program,” Rushing said. “I’m a huge believer in the vision Coach Graham has for this program and it’s always fun and exciting to be a part of a great defensive staff full of like-minded individuals striving for a common goal. Another reason I’m excited to be back in Tempe is the opportunity to work with the great group of student-athletes we have here. I’m excited for the future of these young men on and off the field.”
 
Rushing was a part of an Indianapolis Colts team that won Super Bowl XLI and AFC championships in 2006 and 2009. He collected 1,290 return yards and a punt return for touchdown with the Colts from 2006-09. He also spent part of the 2010 season with the Detroit Lions.
 
Prior to his second stint at ASU, Rushing spent the 2015 seasons as a defensive assistant for Stanford. Rushing worked primarily with the cornerbacks where he mentored All-Pac-12 cornerback Ronnie Harris and helped the Cardinal to a 12-2 season and a Rose Bowl victory.
 
Rushing coached the cornerbacks at Northern Arizona University during the 2014 season. He mentored a pair of All-Big Sky Conference cornerbacks in Blake Bailey and Marcus Alford, who earned first-team recognition.
While at ASU in 2012, Rushing worked with a secondary that led the Pac-12 in passing defense and passing efficiency defense, and ranked third in the nation in the former (167.92 yards per game) and 10th in the nation in the latter (105.45). All four starting defensive backs earned All-Pac-12 honors, including cornerbacks Deveron Carr and Osahon Irabor and safeties Alden Darby and Keelan Johnson, who combined for eight interceptions on the year.
 
A two-time All-Conference honoree, including a first-team specialist as a junior, Rushing is one of the top kick returners in Cardinal history as he tallied 1,409 career return yards and 27.1 yards per return, the second and third, respectively, marks in school history.
 
Rushing played in 43 career games with 19 starts at cornerback and had three career kickoff returns for touchdowns, four interceptions, and 147 tackles, including 13.0 for loss and 4.0 sacks, as well as 14 passes defended, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.
 
Rushing was also a member of the Stanford track and field team from 2003-04 and competed in the 100m, 440m relay and 1600m relay. He ran the leadoff leg on Stanford’s 400m relay team in 2004 that broke the long-standing school record with a time of 39.71 and posted a 10.68 in the 100m.
 
Rushing, who is from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, and his wife, Taylor, have one daughter, Mora.