Scott Daly

{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Scott Daly

| image = Scott Daly Bears 49ers pre-game 2024.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Daly with the Chicago Bears in 2024

| current_team = Chicago Bears

| number = 46

| position = Long snapper

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|2|7}}

| birth_place = Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 245

| high_school = Downers Grove South

| college = Notre Dame (2012–2016)

| undraftedyear = 2017

| pastteams =

| status = Active

| highlights =

| statseason = 2024

| statweek =

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 59

| statlabel2 = Total tackles

| statvalue2 = 6

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 = 1

| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue4 = 1

| pfr = DalySc01

}}

Scott Daly (born February 7, 1994) is an American professional football long snapper for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Early life

Daly began long snapping in the fifth grade.{{cite news|title=A snap judgment: Downers Grove South's Daly jumped at offer to join Irish|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Brian Hamilton|date=February 1, 2012|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21976172/a_snap_judgment_downers_grove_souths/|via=Newspapers.com}} He attended Downers Grove South High School. He played tight end and also handled the team's long-snapping duties. As a junior, he received All-conference and honorable-mention All-area honors at tight end. He is of Irish descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/news/nfl-players-flags-helmets-international-diversity/60b97948b64e49cea5eff7f7|title=Why NFL players are wearing flags on their helmets to promote 'International Diversity' during Week 7-8 games | Sporting News Canada|date=October 22, 2023|website=www.sportingnews.com}}

As a senior, he scored his first career touchdown in the season opener. He was named the national high school long snapper of the year and was ranked the number one long snapper in the nation by Scout.com. In April 2011, he committed to the University of Notre Dame.{{cite news|title=Scott Daly commits to Notre Dame|work=ESPN.com|author=Scott Powers|date=April 11, 2011|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/ncf/news/story?id=6371729}}

College career

Daly accepted a football scholarship from the University of Notre Dame.{{cite news|title=Notre Dame's Scott Daly a model of consistency with a bright NFL future|publisher=NBC Sports|date=November 17, 2016|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/notre-dame/notre-dames-scott-daly-model-consistency-bright-nfl-future}} As a freshman in 2012, he did not see any action behind Jordan Cowart.

As a sophomore in 2013, he was named the team's long snapper for all 13 games. He posted 2 special teams tackles. As a junior in 2014, he was perfect on 127 snapping opportunities.

As a senior in 2015, he started all 13 games, accumulating 39 straight over his first three seasons. He was perfect on 126 snapping opportunities and contributed to Justin Yoon freshman All-American season. On October 31 against Temple University, he posted his first special teams tackle since 2013. On November 21, he recovered a fumble on a muffed punt at the 4-yard line in a game against Boston College.{{cite news|title=Daly has big recovery|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 26, 2015|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21976022/daly_has_big_recovery/|via=Newspapers.com}} He also was recognized for his work in sending supplies to the Dominican Republic.{{cite news|title=St. Cletus helps out with Notre Dame student's mission trip|newspaper=Suburban Life|date=June 3, 2015|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21976398/st_cletus_helps_out_with_notre_dame/|via=Newspapers.com}} He played a total of 39 games during his college career.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 2

| weight = 248

| dash = 5.11

| ten split = 1.72

| twenty split = 2.91

| shuttle = 4.47

| cone drill = 7.47

| vertical = 27.0

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 0

| bench = 20

| arm span = 32 1/4

| hand span = 9 5/8

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=122600&DraftYear=2017 |title=2017 NFL Draft Scout Scott Daly College Football Profile |access-date=July 3, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

Daly was not selected in the 2017 NFL draft. He instead received an invitation for a rookie minicamp tryout with the Chicago Bears in May.{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2017 |title=Bears fourth-round pick Eddie Jackson limited in minicamp debut |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/5/12/18321129/bears-fourth-round-pick-eddie-jackson-limited-in-minicamp-debut |access-date=September 23, 2022 |website=chicago.suntimes.com}} The Bears decided against signing him to a contract and Daly spent the 2017 season out of football.

=Dallas Cowboys=

On April 16, 2018, Daly signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite news|title=Dallas Cowboys Sign Downers Grove South Grad|publisher=Downers Grove Patch|author=Lisa Marie Farver|url=https://patch.com/illinois/downersgrove/dallas-cowboys-sign-downers-grove-south-grad|date=April 17, 2018}} On September 1, he was waived, after not being able to pass stalwart starter L.P. Ladouceur on the depth chart.{{cite web|title=Bailey Not Only Surprise Cut As Cowboys Trim To 53|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/bailey-not-the-only-surprise-cut-as-cowboys-trim-to-53|author=Helman, David|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=September 1, 2018|access-date=September 23, 2022}}

=San Antonio Commanders=

On October 26, 2018, Daly signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football.{{cite web|url=https://210football.com/commanders-announce-6-signings-oct-26-2019|title=Commanders announce 6 signings: Oct. 26, 2019|work=210 Football|date=October 26, 2018|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020423/https://210football.com/commanders-announce-6-signings-oct-26-2019|url-status=dead}} He played with the team until the league ceased operations in April 2019.{{Cite web |last=Rothstein |first=Michael |last2=Wickersham |first2=Seth |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=ESPN.com}}

=New York Guardians=

In October 2019, Daly was selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL in the open phase of the 2020 XFL Draft.{{cite web|last=Talbot|first=Damond|url=https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2019/10/xfl-draft-8/|title=XFL Draft Phase 5: The Final Rounds of the Draft, Find out who was selected|publisher=NFL Draft Diamonds|date=October 16, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}} He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.{{cite news |author=Condotta, Bob |title=XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/xfl-suspends-operations-terminates-all-employees/ |website=SeattleTimes.com |date=April 10, 2020 |access-date=July 17, 2020}}

=Detroit Lions=

On May 4, 2021, Daly signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions.{{cite news |title=Lions sign free agents LS Scott Daly and G Evan Heim |url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-sign-free-agents-ls-scott-daly-and-g-evan-heim |website=DetroitLions.com |date=May 4, 2021 |access-date=September 23, 2022}} He earned the long snapper job during the preseason after passing 17-year veteran Don Muhlbach on the depth chart.{{cite news |title=Detroit Lions LS Scott Daly has big shoes to fill replacing Don Muhlbach: 'I know I can do this' |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2021/08/20/detroit-lions-scott-daly-don-muhlbach/8203992002/ |website=freep.com |date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=September 23, 2022}} During the 2024 training camp, Daly was informed that rookie Hogan Hatten passed him on the depth chart, ultimately leading to Daly’s release.

=Chicago Bears=

On August 29, 2024, Daly was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Bears training camp report: Thursday, Aug. 29 |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-training-camp-report-thursday-aug-29-tyrique-stevenson-roster-moves-practice-squad-long-snapper |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=ChicagoBears.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 14 and started in lieu of the injured Patrick Scales.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=September 14, 2024 |title=Roster Moves: Bears put Bates on IR; add Daly, Johnson to roster |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-put-bates-on-ir-add-daly-johnson-to-roster |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}

References

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