View source for Jake Scott

{{Short description|American football player (1945–2020)}}
{{Other people|Jake Scott}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Jake Scott
| image       = 
| image_size  =
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| position    = [[Safety (American football position)|Safety]], [[return specialist]], [[wide receiver]] ([[CFL]] only)
| number      = 13
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1945|7|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Greenwood, South Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|mf=y|2020|11|19|1945|7|20}}
| death_place = [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 0
| weight_lbs  = 188
| high_school = [[Bullis School]] {{nowrap|([[Potomac, Maryland]])}}
| college     = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]] (1966–1968)
| draftyear   = 1970
| draftround  = 7
| draftpick   = 159
| teams       =
* [[BC Lions]] ({{CFL Year|1969}})
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|1970}}–{{NFL Year|1975}})
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1976}}–{{NFL Year|1978}})
| highlights  =
* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]], [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]])
* [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl MVP]] ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]])
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1973 All-Pro Team|1973]], [[1974 All-Pro Team|1974]])
* 3× Second-team All-Pro ([[1971 All-Pro Team|1971]], [[1972 All-Pro Team|1972]], [[1975 All-Pro Team|1975]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]]–[[1976 Pro Bowl|1975]])
* [[Miami Dolphin Honor Roll]]
* Consensus [[All-American]] ([[1968 College Football All-America Team|1968]])
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|SEC Player of the Year]] (1968)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1967 All-SEC football team|1967]], [[1968 All-SEC football team|1968]])
* [[Florida–Georgia football rivalry#Florida&ndash;Georgia Hall of Fame|Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame]]
| statlabel1  = Games played
| statvalue1  = 126
| statlabel2  = Games started
| statvalue2  = 126
| statlabel3  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue3  = 49
| statlabel4  = INT return yards
| statvalue4  = 551
| statlabel5  = Return yards
| statvalue5  = 1,474
| pfr         = 
| CollegeHOF  = 2314 
}}

'''Jacob E. Scott III''' (July 20, 1945 – November 19, 2020)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Habib |first=Hal |title=Jake Scott, Miami Dolphins legend and Super Bowl MVP, dies at 75 |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/11/19/dolphins-jake-scott-super-bowl-mvp-complete-17-0-season-dies/6350731002/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}}</ref> was an American professional [[gridiron football|football]] player who was a [[Safety (American football position)|safety]] and [[punt returner]] from [[1970 in sports|1970]] to [[1978 in sports|1978]] for the [[Miami Dolphins]] and [[Washington Redskins]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played college football for [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]], and was selected by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the [[1970 NFL draft]].

Scott went to the [[Pro Bowl]] five consecutive times between [[1971 Pro Bowl|1971]] and [[1975 Pro Bowl|1975]].  He recorded 35 [[interception]]s 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best Miami Dolphins Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Defense) |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/630811-the-best-miami-dolphins-not-in-the-pro-football-hall-of-fame-defense |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Dolphins and One-Day Contracts, Honor Roll and Retired Jerseys {{!}} Sports Illustrated Miami Dolphins News, Analysis and More |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/.amp/news/miami-dolphins-and-one-day-contracts-honor-roll-and-jersey-numbers |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=www.si.com}}</ref>

==College career==
After growing up in [[Athens, Georgia|Athens]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], but playing high school football in [[Arlington, Virginia]] at [[Washington-Lee High School]], and then eventually [[Bullis School]] in [[Potomac, Maryland]] for 2 years Scott played [[college football]] at the [[University of Georgia]], where he led Georgia in [[interception]]s in 1967 with six interceptions and 1968 with ten interceptions.  In 1967, Scott was named first-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] [[defensive back]] by the [[Associated Press]], and in 1968 again in both the AP and the [[UPI]]. The ten interceptions in a season is now second-most in Georgia history behind [[Terry Hoage]]’s 12 in 1982.  Scott's 175 return yards on interceptions in 1968 is also second all-time for Georgia.

Scott's college career total of 315 interception return yards was the most in school history until 2017. He also holds the current Georgia record for career interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UGA Football Interception Records |url=https://sicemdawgs.com/uga-football-records/interceptions/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=SicEmDawgs.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Scott was inducted into the [[Georgia Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1986<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLASS OF 1986 |url=https://www.georgiasportshalloffame.com/class-of-1986 |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=GSHF |language=en}}</ref> and the Athens (GA) Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-12 |title=2000 Inductees {{!}} Athens Hall of Fame |url=https://athenshalloffame.com/inductees/2000/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>

It was announced on May 17, 2011, that Scott had been selected for induction into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weiszer |first1=Marc |title=Reclusive Jake Scott going into College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/article/20110518/sports/305189806 |website=savannahnow.com |publisher=GateHouse Media, LLC |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref>

Scott left the University of Georgia after his Junior year to go to Canada and play professional football  in the [[CFL]]. Based on his July 20 birth date, Scott's military draft lottery number of record was 187. The highest administrative draft number called for Scott's year group was 195, suggesting that Scott could  have been, but was not, drafted for military service during the [[Vietnam War]] as he had previously served in the [[U.S. Marines]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legendary Bulldog, Dolphin, Jake Scott dies at 75 |url=https://www.walb.com/2020/11/20/legendary-bulldog-dolphin-jake-scott-dies/?outputType=amp |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.walb.com| date=November 20, 2020 }}</ref>

==Professional career==
Scott began his professional career in 1969 in the [[Canadian Football League]] as a [[Flanker (American football)|flanker]] and [[Return specialist|kick returner]] with the [[BC Lions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jake Scott Stats|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/scot03600.html|website=profootballarchives.com|access-date=6 November 2020}}</ref> In his one season with the Lions he played in 11 games caught 35 passes for 596 yards and three touchdowns, all marks which were good for second best or tied for second best on the team. He also recorded 224 kickoff return yards, which led the team. The [[1969 BC Lions season|BC Lions]] finished with a record of 5–11.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 British Columbia Lions (CFL) - Pro Football Archives |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1969cflbc.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.profootballarchives.com}}</ref>

He was selected by the Miami Dolphins during the seventh round, 159th overall, in the [[1970 NFL draft]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1970/draft.htm|title=1970 NFL Draft|publisher=Football References|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> where in his rookie year, he recorded five interceptions and returned one punt return for 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 recorded a 21-yard punt return in the game.

Scott was a key member of the [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|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.{{ref|MVP}}  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 [[List of Super Bowl records|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.{{ref|Super}}

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.{{ref|AllTime}} 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 [[Washington Redskins|Redskins]] the final 3 years of his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jake Scott: Career Stats |url=https://www.nfl.com/players/jake-scott-2/stats/ |website=nfl.com |publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC |access-date=10 August 2019}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jake Scott Career Touchdown Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ScotJa01.htm |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jake Scott Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ScotJa01.htm |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In the late 1980s, [[NFL Films]] named Scott as the Dolphins All-Time Neutralizer sponsored by [[Tums]].  He was inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame Past Inductees |url=http://www.coj.net/departments/jacksonville-economic-development-commission/sports-and-entertainment/hall-of-fame-past-inductees.aspx |website=coj.net |publisher=Official City of Jacksonville and Duval County Government Website |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref> The [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Scott to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2007.htm |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2007 |access-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707030855/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2007.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Scott was one of only three living [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player|Super Bowl MVPs]] who did not attend [[Super Bowl XL]], when all previous MVPs were honored prior to the game; the other no-shows were [[Terry Bradshaw]] and [[Joe Montana]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Ira |title=SUPER BOWL XL NOTEBOOK / 3-time MVP Montana turns down star-studded get-together |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/SUPER-BOWL-XL-NOTEBOOK-3-time-MVP-Montana-turns-2523015.php |website=sfgate.com |date=February 6, 2006 |publisher=Hearst |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref> Scott did attend [[Super Bowl 50]] and was introduced during pre-game festivities.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fennelly |first1=John |title=Giants well represented in Super Bowl 50 pregame ceremonies |url=https://www.sny.tv/giants/news/giants-well-represented-in-super-bowl-50-pregame-ceremonies/163819324 |website=sny.tv |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref>

Scott was inducted with [[Bill Stanfill]] into the [[Miami Dolphin Honor Roll|Miami Dolphins Honor Roll]] on November 18, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Robert |title=Who's Next? 11 Deserving Players To Consider for the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/401453-the-next-10-players-to-consider-for-the-miami-dolphin-honor-roll?m=1 |website=BleacherReport.com |publisher=Bleacher Report, Inc. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#f4c842; width:3em;"|
| [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl MVP]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="4"| Interceptions
! colspan="4"| Fum
|-

! GP !! GS !! Int !! Yards !! TD !! Lng !! Fmb !! FR !! Yards !! TD 
|-

! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 14 || 14|| 5 || '''112 '''|| 0|| '''47 '''|| 1|| 1 || 0 || 0
|-

! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 14 || 14 || 7 || 34 || 0 || 21 || ''' 3 '''|| 2 || 0 || 0
|-

! style="background:#f4c842; width:3em;"| [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1972 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 14 || 14|| 5 || 73 || 0 || 31 || 1|| 2 || '''20 '''|| 0
|-

! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1973 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 14||14|| 4|| 71 || 0 || 29 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-

! [[1974 NFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 14 || 14 || '''8 '''|| 75 || 0 || 30 || 2 || 1 || 14 || 0
|-

! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 14 || 14 || 6 || 60 || 0 || 38 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-

! [[1976 NFL season|1976]] !! [[1976 Miami Dolphins season|WAS]]
| 12 || 12 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 6 || 1 || '''5 '''|| 0 || 0
|-

! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] !! [[1977 Miami Dolphins season|WAS]]
| 14 || 14 || 3 || 42 || 0 || 25 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[1978 NFL season|1978]] !! [[1978 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| ''' 16 '''|| '''16 '''|| 7 || 72 || 0 || 39 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-

! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeDi00.htm Career] !! 126 !! 126 !! 49 !! 551 !! 0 !! 47 !! 9 !! 13 !! 35 !! 0
|}

==Personal life and death==
Scott was a lifelong bachelor,<ref name="scott">{{cite web |last1=Kantowski |first1=Ron |title=Dolphin's Jake Scott, reluctant Super Bowl hero, remembered |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ron-kantowski/remembering-dolphins-jake-scott-reluctant-super-bowl-hero-2189526/ |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |access-date=2 January 2021 |date=23 November 2020}}</ref> who enjoyed fishing and traveling.<ref name="scott2" /> A private individual known for shunning the spotlight,<ref name="scott2">{{cite web |last1=Belson |first1=Ken |title=Jake Scott, Super Bowl M.V.P. for the Dolphins, Dies at 75 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/22/obituaries/jake-scott-dead.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 January 2021 |date=22 November 2020}}</ref> Scott had lived in the [[Colorado]] mountains and the [[Florida Keys]], and spent his later years living in [[Hanalei, Hawaii|Hanalei]], a small town on the Hawaiian island of [[Kauai]].<ref name="scott" />  During his retirement Scott was an investor in [[Hawaii]].{{ref|Seclusion}}

Scott had a falling out with at the time Miami Dolphins Head Coach Don Shula which eventually resulted in his trade to the Washington Redskins and lasted well into his retirement. As a result, he did not participate in Dolphins alumni events for several decades. Many years later, the two reconciled, and Scott later attended his Miami Dolphins Honor Roll enshrinement as well as [[Super Bowl 50]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Belson |first=Ken |date=2020-11-22 |title=Jake Scott, Super Bowl M.V.P. for the Dolphins, Dies at 75 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/22/obituaries/jake-scott-dead.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Scott was quoted, “Coach Shula and I had our differences, but time heals all wounds,”<ref name=":0" />

Scott died at the age of 75 on November 19, 2020, after falling down a flight of steps while visiting friends in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jake Scott, Miami Dolphins legend and Super Bowl MVP, dies at 75|author=Habib, Hal|publisher=Naples Daily News|date=November 19, 2020|access-date=2020-11-19|url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/11/19/dolphins-jake-scott-super-bowl-mvp-complete-17-0-season-dies/6350731002/}}</ref> He is one of at least 345 [[List of NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy|NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head.<ref>{{cite news |title=The driving force behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) |website=Concussion Legacy Foundation |url=https://concussionfoundation.org/cte-resources/subconcussive-impacts |access-date=July 2, 2023 |archive-date=July 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702123543/https://concussionfoundation.org/cte-resources/subconcussive-impacts |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Ken Belson and Benjamin Mueller |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/20/sports/football/cte-study-concussions-brain-tackle.html |title=Collective Force of Head Hits, Not Just the Number of Them, Increases Odds of C.T.E.  The largest study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to date found that the cumulative force of head hits absorbed by players in their careers is the best predictor of future brain disease. |work= [[The New York Times]] |date=June 20, 2023 |access-date=July 2, 2023 }}</ref>

Scott was cremated and his ashes were spread in the waters of [[Hanalei Bay]].<ref name="ashes">{{cite web |last1=Towers |first1=Chip |title=UGA great Jake Scott's memorabilia bringing big money at auction |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/jake-scott-collection-bringing-big-money-at-auction/QEGAA5O5MBCLTC5UAXL5VI6TNY/ |website=AJC.com |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=26 February 2021}}</ref> Memorabilia from Scott's personal collection, including his Super Bowl rings, were sold at auction, as per his final wishes.<ref name="ashes" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}
#{{note|MVP}} [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/ Super Bowl MVPs] Retrieved February 29, 2012
#{{note|AllTime}} [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/career-defense.htm Miami Dolphins player profile, Jake Scott] Retrieved Feb 29, 2012
#{{note|Seclusion}} [http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-spjakescott19nov19,0,3570478.story?page=1 HYDE: Where's Jake Scott? We found him] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510071558/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-spjakescott19nov19,0,3570478.story?page=1 |date=May 10, 2008 }} Retrieved December 19, 2006
#{{note|Super}} [http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/records/superbowls/player/fumbles Super Bowl Records] Retrieved February 29, 2012

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060825200427/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ScottJak01 Jake Scott's stats on databasefootball]}}
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ScotJa01.htm Jake Scott's stats on pro-football-reference]

{{Southeastern Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{1968 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Dolphins1970DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl VII}}
{{Super Bowl VIII}}
{{Super Bowl MVPs}}
{{DolphinsHonorRoll}}
{{NFL punt return yards leaders}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Jake}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Greenwood, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Players of American football from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:American football return specialists]]
[[Category:Canadian football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Canadian football return specialists]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]]
[[Category:Super Bowl MVPs]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:BC Lions players]]
[[Category:Washington-Liberty High School alumni]]