CINCINNATI — Playing in the Super Bowl is a dream come true for most NFL players. But for one from Southwest Ohio, it’s even sweeter playing for the team he grew up cheering for.
What You Need To Know
- Josiah Scott grew up an Eagles fan
- Scott played football at Fairfield High School just outside Cincinnati, before playing at Michigan State
- Scott was drafted by the Jaguars but after his rookie season was traded to the Eagles
- Now, this Ohio kid has a chance to play in the Super Bowl for the team he grew up cheering for
Eagles cornerback Josiah Scott grew up just outside of Cincinnati; he went to Fairfield High School. But despite growing up in the Queen City, the three-year veteran was a die-hard Eagles fan from a young age.
Josiah Scott at the age of eight or nine with an Eagles helmet. (Courtesy of Oliver Scott)
“He just had to have a helmet, so we got him a helmet, and ever since then he’s been an Eagles fan,” Oliver Scott, Josiah’s dad said.
Oliver shared that, for Josiah, it was a dream to get drafted by the Jaguars, but his dream got even better when he was traded to the Eagles after his rookie season.
“We were very, very excited when he was drafted and then when we found out he was being traded it was even more exciting because his whole bedroom was Philadelphia Eagles ever since he was 8 or 9 years old,” Oliver said.
But Josiah’s football roots start in Ohio at Fairfield High School, where his picture hangs on the wall of the football team room.
Scott’s NFL picture hangs in the football room at Fairfield High School. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)
Jason Krause, Fairfield’s head coach, said having the pictures of players that played in college, and in Josiah and Jackson Carmen’s case, play in the NFL, is motivating to his guys
“We’re proud of that,” Krause said. “It’s just cool because every day when we start the off-season stuff, we start in this room. So our kids are always reminded of the guys who played before them.”
Josiah even sent the program a jersey earlier this year to show appreciation for his roots.
“It says ‘To coach Krause and Fairfield Football, Roll Tribe, forever an Indian’,” Krause said.
Krause said seeing Josiah now with the Eagles is surreal.
“He played one year there and was traded to the Eagles which was awesome for him because his entire life he was an Eagles fan,” Krause said. “So he’s been an Eagles fan his entire life. So when he got the trade, he was so excited to now be playing for his favorite team when he was a little kid.”
Oliver said thanks to Krause’s coaching in Southwest Ohio, Josiah has been able to grow into the player he is today.
Josiah with his dad, Oliver, when he played at Fairfield. (Courtesy of Oliver Scott)
“He let them grow as they grew up,” Oliver said. “Because Josiah played early when he was at Fairfield. He started as a sophomore so he was able to allow them to grow there and by his senior year he was one of the best corners in the state of Ohio.”
Josiah Scott’s parents, Oliver and Danielle, at an Eagles game. (Courtesy of Oliver Scott)
The entire Scott family is traveling to Phoenix for the game, something Oliver said will be a very proud moment for the entire family.
Oliver Scott with his three oldest sons at an Eagles game. (Courtesy of Oliver Scott)
“This weekend is going to be very special,” Oliver said. “Like I said, I don’t know if I can put it into words what I’m going to feel. But, really happy for the family, for his older brothers, my wife, and myself, but really for him.”
