Players

  Ian Scott has some big shoes to fill. With a size 16 foot, one of the biggest on the team, he just might be the right man for the job as he vies to back up All-Pro defensive tackle Jamal Williams.

   Scott came over to the Chargers from Chicago by way of Philadelphia. He spent four seasons (2003-06) in the “Windy City,” working under then Bears’ defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Scott had four very good years in Chicago and even started for the Bears in Super Bowl XLI following the 2006 season. An unrestricted free agent following their Super Bowl loss to the Colts, Scott signed with the Eagles, but suffered a knee injury in training camp and missed the entire season. After a full year of rehab, Scott signed with the Chargers about a month into the ’08 season and saw limited action in four games. He’s hoping to make a bigger contribution in 2009.

  Scott and his wife, Crystal, are actively involved with Hope Worldwide, an international charity dedicated to delivering high-impact, community-based services to poor and needy in United States and abroad. Fullback Mack Strong of the Seattle Seahawks is a good friend and introduced the Scotts to Hope Worldwide.

  At home, Scott enjoys reading and spending time with their three kids, daughters Skylar and Savannah, and son J.J. He and Crystal also like to watch movies, play cards with friends and go bowling. The Scott’s Gainesville, Florida home is about 100 miles from Orlando’s Disneyworld and they have become collectors of Thomas Kinkade’s Disney paintings, owning every one in the collection. Scott is also an avid sports memorabilia collector and has several signed and framed jerseys, including one from childhood friend and Washington Nationals pitcher Joel Hanrahan.

  Scott is the product of an athletic family. He and all three of his brothers played football at Gainesville High School. Youngest brother, Markus, walked on and played with Ian at Florida. Their dad, Randy, actually went to training camp with the Chargers in 1979 as a free agent linebacker from Clemson and later spent a year in the Canadian Football League. And their cousin, Michael, played arena football.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Selected by Chicago in fourth round (116), April 27, 2003…signed with Bears, July 26, 2003…signed with Philadelphia, May 3, 2007…signed with Carolina, April 29, 2008…released, Aug. 20, 2008…signed with Chargers, Sept. 24, 2008.

 2008: Played first game of season Oct. 19 at Buffalo.

 2007: Missed season with knee injury suffered during training camp…placed on injured-reserve Sept. 2. 2006: Started all three playoff games for Bears, including Super Bowl XLI.

 2005: INT first-career pass vs. Detroit Sept. 18… season-high 10 stops vs. Cincinnati Sept. 25.

 2004: Led DL with 77 stops…INA Wks 1-2...started final 13 games…first-career sack at Minnesota Sept. 26…season-high 10 TT vs. Houston Dec. 19.

 2003: NFL debut vs. Oakland Oct. 15.  COLLEGE: Entered NFL Draft following junior season …second-team All-SEC as soph.…two-time Academic All-America...recipient of school’s Bob Bryan Student Athlete of Year Award...finished career with 120 TT, 3.5 sacks, 20 TFLs and one FF…played at Florida from 2000-02…industrial and systems engineering major.

 PERSONAL: Born in Greenville, S.C....prep All-America and two-time all-state at Gainesville (Fla.) HS...starting center on ’99 state title hoops team...valedictorian ...member National and Spanish Honor Societies.