Scott Case (American football)
Jeffrey Scott Case (born May 17, 1962 in Waynoka, Oklahoma) is a former safety in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys. As a Cowboy, he was a part of their Super Bowl XXX champion team that beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the University of Oklahoma.
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | May 17, 1962 Waynoka, Oklahoma | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 188 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Edmond (OK) | ||||||||
| College: | Oklahoma | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Early years
Case attended Alva High School, before transferring to Edmond High School after his sophomore season. As a junior, he was a safety and helped his team reach the Class 4A state finals. In his last year, he was moved to running back and although he received All-State honors, his team finished with a losing record (4-7).
He was planning to enroll at Oklahoma State University, until the school took his scholarship offer back and gave it to another prospect.[1]
College career
Case moved on to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, playing free safety as a freshman, while posting 5 interceptions and contributing to an unbeaten season and a national junior college championship. The next year in 9 games, he registered 60 tackles, 4 interceptions, 12 passes defensed and received junior college All-American honors. He also returned punts (19.5-yards average) and kickoffs (15-yards average). He scored 3 touchdowns (2 on punt returns).[2] In his two years, the school posted a 19-1 record.
Case accepted a scholarship from the University of Oklahoma and transferred after his sophomore season.[3] He was named the starting cornerback, registering 56 tackles, 2 interceptions and 8 passes defensed. As a senior, he was switched to free safety and tied a school single-season record for interceptions (eight).
In 2011, he was inducted into the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Athletics Hall of Fame.[4]
Professional career
Atlanta Falcons
Case was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1984 NFL Draft. He was also selected by the Oklahoma Outlaws in the 1984 USFL Territorial Draft. He was a backup safety as a rookie.
He became a starter at strong safety in his second year, quickly establishing himself as a hard hitter, while registering 95 tackles and 4 interceptions. In 1986, he was moved to right cornerback to help him play under control and avoid mistakes, finishing with 4 interceptions and 34 passes defensed.[5] The next year, he struggled with shoulder, neck and ankle injuries, starting 10 games, registering one interception and 36 passes defensed (led the team).[6]
In 1988, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl, after recording 65 tackles and leading the league with 10 interceptions, also a franchise record. The next year although he played in 14 games, he suffered stretched ligaments in his right foot and a sprained left knee that limited him to 8 starts, but still had 2 interceptions and 11 passes defensed (fourth on the team).[7]
In 1990, with the arrival of new head coach Jerry Glanville, he was moved to free safety, registering 170 tackles (third on the team), 3 interceptions, 7 passes defensed, 3 quarterback sacks, 5 quarterback pressures and 2 fumble recoveries. The next year, he posted 162 tackles (second on the team), 2 interceptions, 9 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries, while helping the team make the playoffs from the first time since 1982.
In 1994, he played mostly as a backup on the nickel defense (3 starts).
During his eleven years career with the Falcons, he only experienced one winning season (1991), that year the team won its first playoff game since 1978. He finished second in career tackles, fourth in career interceptions (30), led defensive backs in career sacks (7.5) and with the third-most games played by a defender in franchise history.
Dallas Cowboys
On August 24, 1995, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, reuniting him with his college coach Barry Switzer.[8][9] He was used as the strong safety in the nickel defense and also played on special teams.[10] He was a part of the Super Bowl XXX winning team and had a highlight-reel tackle, that forced an Ernie Mills fumble that was recovered by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Personal life
Case now lives in Buford, Georgia with his wife, Connie, and their four children. He is a business partner with former Falcons teammate Tom Pridemore at Pride Utility Construction Company. His daughter, Kallie Case, plays softball for the University of Alabama. He has two sons, Kyler and Kody, and another daughter, Kelsey. Kyler is the 2017 "Champion" of a company wide Chili cook-off, although it is believed that his mother actually poisoned the chili.
References
- "Dallas' Case Is Living His Dream". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "NEO all-American to sign with Sooners". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "The (Scott) Case is closed on potential of Sooner". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "NEO Hall of Fame bio". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "Falcons Back Case Into a Corner". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "Falcons make a Case". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "Case Happy to Be Away for Holidays". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "Dallas Considering Signing Safety Case". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "Case Wants Ring, Accepts New Role". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- "Dallas' Case Is Living His Dream". Retrieved January 29, 2016.