Jake Scott left the University of Georgia after his sophomore year and spent one season with the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League while he waited to become eligible for the NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins took him in the seventh round in 1970.

He played six seasons in Miami and started every game. He recorded at least four interceptions in each of those seasons, and the last five earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl. In 1973 and 1974, he was also first-team All-Pro. Along with Dick Anderson, he formed one of the era’s better safety tandems, and he also doubled as a punt returner who rarely called for a fair catch.

What set Scott apart was the combination of range and toughness. He was not the biggest safety, but he covered ground quickly, arrived with bad intentions, and rarely missed a tackle in space. In the peak years from 1971 through 1974, he was consistently among the league’s best ballhawks while also returning punts with a willingness to take hits rather than signal for a fair catch. Opposing quarterbacks learned that throwing into his area often meant watching the ball go the other way, and the Dolphins’ secondary rarely gave up easy yards over the top when he was back there.

As a member of the Dolphins’ championship teams, he owns two Super Bowl rings. In Super Bowl VII, which capped the undefeated 1972 season, he intercepted two passes and was named the game’s MVP. One of those picks came in the fourth quarter and helped preserve the 14-7 win over the Washington Redskins. The following year, he also contributed to the Super Bowl VIII victory.

After the 1975 season, he joined the Washington Redskins and played three more years before retiring, and the Dolphins added him to their Honor Roll in 2010. His 35 interceptions remain a team record.