Jake Scott

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Scott went to the Pro Bowl five consecutive times between 1971 and 1975. He recorded 35 interceptions in his six seasons as a Dolphin, and another 14 in his three years with the Redskins. To this day, he remains the Miami Dolphins all-time leader in interceptions with 35. He was also a five-time first or second team All-Pro, and won back-to-back Super Bowl Championships in 1972 and 1973, including winning the MVP of Super Bowl VII. Scott wore number 13 throughout his career, which was later made famous in Miami by Dan Marino, and has since been retired in Marino's honor.

In Their Own Story

In the late 1980s, NFL Films recognized Scott as the Dolphins All-Time Neutralizer, sponsored by Tums, highlighting his impact on the game. Despite a falling out with head coach Don Shula that led to his trade to the Washington Redskins for his final three career years, the two eventually reconciled. Scott later attended his Miami Dolphins Honor Roll enshrinement in 2010 alongside Bill Stanfill and was introduced during Super Bowl 50 festivities. Scott's career statistics include 49 total interceptions (35 with Miami, 14 with Washington) and 13 fumble recoveries. He led the NFL in punt return yards in 1971 with 318 and finished his career with 1,357 punt return yards. A private individual who shunned the spotlight, he lived in the Colorado mountains, Florida Keys, and later Hanalei on Kauai. Scott died at age 75 on November 19, 2020, after falling down a flight of steps in Atlanta, Georgia. Posthumously, it was revealed he was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Reader's Guide

Scott began his professional career in 1969 in the Canadian Football League as a flanker and kick returner with the BC Lions. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins during the seventh round, 159th overall, in the 1970 NFL draft. In his rookie year, he recorded five interceptions and returned one punt for a touchdown. The following year, he recorded seven interceptions and 318 punt return yards, helping the team reach Super Bowl VI, which they lost 24–3 to the Dallas Cowboys. Scott was a key member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated season, and was named Super Bowl MVP of Super Bowl VII, recording two interceptions in the Dolphins' 14–7 win over the Washington Redskins including one in the fourth quarter. He helped the Dolphins in their 24-7 Super Bowl VIII win, recording two fumble recoveries, 20 punt return yards, and 47 kickoff return yards in that game. He established two Super Bowl records. Scott set a record by being the first player to recover 2 fumbles in one game. He also first established the record for most career fumble recoveries in Super Bowls at two, a record now shared by 12 others. Scott is still the only player to have recovered one of his own team's fumbles and one of his opponent's fumbles in a single Super Bowl game. Overall, Scott finished his nine seasons with 49 interceptions. He made 35 interceptions playing 6 seasons for Miami, making him the Dolphins' all-time leader in that category. Scott had 13 fumble recoveries in his career. On special teams, he gained 1,357 yards and a touchdown returning punts, and 137 yards on six kickoff returns. Scott played for the Redskins the final 3 years of his career. While best known for his defensive play, Scott also returned punts. In week 10 of his rookie season against the Baltimore Colts, he returned a punt 77 yards for his first and only NFL touchdown. He led the NFL in punt return yards in 1971 with 318 and finished top ten in punt returns yards a total of four times over his NFL career. He finished his NFL career with 1,357 punt return yards with a 10.4 yards per return average, and an additional 137 kick return yards. No player had more interceptions than Scott in the 1970s.

Did You Know?

• Scott wore number 13 throughout his career, which was later made famous in Miami by Dan Marino, and has since been retired in Marino's honor.
• Scott was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Athens (GA) Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
• Scott was inducted with Bill Stanfill into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll on November 18, 2010.
• Scott died at the age of 75 on November 19, 2020, after falling down a flight of steps while visiting friends in Atlanta, Georgia.