Scott Pelluer


Scott John Pelluer is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Washington State University and coached at several collegiate programs.

Early years

Born in Yakima, Washington, Pelluer attended Mead High School north of Spokane, then moved in 1975 with his family to Bellevue, a suburb east of Seattle. He transferred to Interlake High School as a junior, and was a tight end and linebacker for the Saints.
After graduation in 1977, Pelluer accepted a scholarship from Washington State University in Pullman, where he was a four-year starter at defensive end and outside linebacker. As a junior in 1979, he registered 71 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. Pelluer followed that in 1980 with twelve sacks and two interceptions.
He finished his college career with 240 tackles and 19 sacks, at the time ranking as the school career sack leader and one of the top career tacklers.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Pelluer was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL Draft. At the time, he was assisting with spring football practice at Weber State in Ogden, Utah, under first-year head coach Mike Price. Pelluer was waived by the Cowboys on August 3.

New Orleans Saints

On September 1, 1981, Pelluer was signed as a free agent by the New Orleans Saints, where he was a backup outside linebacker under head coach Bum Phillips. From 1981 to 1984, he only had one start at linebacker, focusing most of his playing time on special teams.
In 1985, he appeared in eleven games, with five starts as a right inside linebacker in the team's 3-4 defense. He missed three games with a hamstring injury, and was placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury for the final two contests of the season.
On August 19, 1986, Pelluer was placed on the injured reserve list. In January 1987, he was released before the start of training camp, as part of a youth movement.

Coaching career

From 1986 to 1992, Pelluer served as a defensive assistant coach at Boise State University. From 1993 to 1995, he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Northern Arizona University. In 1996, he was named the linebackers and safeties coach at the University of Washington.
In 1999, he joined the private sector to work for a sports Internet firm, while also being the color commentator on Washington State's football radio broadcasts. In 2000, he was named the defensive coordinator at Skyline High School, helping them win the Washington state championship.
From 2001 to 2002, he was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Arizona. In 2003, he returned to the University of Washington, to be the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.

Personal life

Pelluer's father Arnie was a standout multi-sport athlete from Bremerton and played at Washington State from 1953 to 1955. He was later the track coach at Yakima Valley College, Whitworth in Spokane, and Eastern Washington in Cheney; diagnosed with diabetes, Arnie had a seizure while swimming at the Whitworth Terrace Community pool in Spokane and died at His widow Jodee later married Jim Harryman and the family moved to the Seattle area in 1975 so the boys could play football at Interlake under head coach Rollie Robbins, a friend
Brother Steve was the starting quarterback for rival Washington and in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys; youngest brother Arnie was a linebacker at Stanford from 1985 to 1989. Their maternal grandfather, Carl Gustafson, was a fullback at Washington State from 1925 to 1927.
Pelluer's three sons played Division I college football: Tyler at Montana, Cooper at Washington, and Peyton at Washington State.