ɹˈʌðɚfɚd ˈɛntɚd ðə nˈæʃənəl fˈʊtbɔːl lˈiːɡ ˌɛnˌɛfˈɛl wɛn hiː wʌz sˈaɪnd baɪ ðə kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə pˈænθɚz æz ɐn ʌndɹˈæftᵻd fɹˈiː ˈeɪdʒənt ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ.
Rutherford entered the National Football League (NFL) when he was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2004.