Jake Scott

Jake Scott (Jacob E. Scott III, July 20, 1945 – November 19, 2020) was an iconic American football safety and punt returner best known for his tenure with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins. Born in Greenwood, South Carolina and raised in Athens, Georgia, he excelled at Washington‑Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia before finishing his prep career at Bullis School in Maryland, where his athletic prowess earned him a scholarship to the University of Georgia. At Georgia he set school records with 315 interception return yards and a career‑high ten interceptions in 1968, achievements that later secured his induction into both the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Drafted in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft, Scott quickly became a defensive cornerstone, earning five consecutive Pro Bowl selections (1971‑1975) and two First‑team All‑Pro honors. He was a pivotal figure in the Dolphins’ historic unbeaten 1972 season, capturing Super Bowl VII MVP honors after two interceptions, and followed with another championship in Super Bowl VIII, where he set a then‑record by recovering two fumbles in a single game. Over his nine‑year professional career he amassed 49 interceptions, 551 return yards, and 1,474 total return yards, while also leading the league in punt return yards in 1971. After retiring in 1978, Scott lived a private life as a bachelor, dividing his time between Colorado, the Florida Keys, and eventually Hanalei on Kauai, where he pursued investment opportunities and his love of fishing. A long‑standing rift with coach Don Shula delayed his participation in Dolphins alumni events, but the two reconciled later in life, allowing Scott to attend his Honor Roll induction in 2010 and Super Bowl 50 festivities. He died tragically after a fall in Atlanta at age 75, and his ashes were scattered in Hanalei Bay, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the NFL’s premier defensive backs and a two‑time Super Bowl champion.