Scott Pelluer

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 (led the team) and two interceptions. Pelluer followed that in 1980 with twelve sacks (a school record at the time) and two interceptions.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DE9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3871%2C5450668 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Gerheim |first=Earl |title=BEWARE! Pelluer hazardous to QBs' health |date=November 12, 1980 |page=B1}}

Pelluer finished his college career with 240 tackles (180 solo) and 19 sacks, at the time ranking as the school career sack leader and one of the top career tacklers.{{cite web| url=http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/2013/4/18/208225125.aspx | title=Arizona coaching bio| access-date=February 19, 2017}}

Pelluer was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (91st overall) 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lvhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4358%2C5377671 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Pelluer taken by Cowboys in 4th round|date=April 29, 1981 |page=B1}} Pelluer was waived by the Cowboys on August 3.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WxwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yKoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5058%2C4663442 |work=Sumter Daily Item |location=(South Carolina) |agency=Associated Press |title=Cowboys release seven; cut date growing nearer |date=August 4, 1981|page=2B}}

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.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NUoaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WycEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6033%2C612117 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Saints snap up Pelluer; Bengals cut Levenseller |date=September 2, 1981|page=50}} 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.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oQ4iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z6YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4865%2C4208748 |work=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |title=Transactions: Football - New Orleans Saints |date=August 20, 1986 |page=43}} In January 1987, he was released before the start of training camp, as part of a youth movement.{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xVlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cO8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6473%2C2831597 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington) |last=Blanchette |first=John |title=Pelluer tackles old challenge |date=January 21, 1987 |page=D1}}

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.{{cite web| url=http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/2013/4/18/208223343.aspx | title=Washington coaching bio | access-date=February 19, 2017}}

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.

Pelluer's father Arnie (1934–1971) 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,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CZNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5464%2C587623 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Whit track coach quits job |date=May 19, 1970 |page=13}} 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 {{nowrap|age 36.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TKJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4397%2C3928831|work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Former WSU grid great drowns |date=September 19, 1971 |page=17}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gfhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5943%2C3478518 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Cour |first=Jim |title=Huskies' Pelluer recalls tragedy |date=September 8, 1983 |page=26 }}{{cite news |url=http://archive.kitsapsun.com/sports/an-emotional-walk-down-the-kitsap-hall-for-athlete-inductees-ep-419392737-357501331.html/ |work=Kitsap Sun |location=(Bremerton, Washington) |last=Mosher |first=Terry |title=An emotional walk down the Kitsap hall for athlete inductees|date=September 25, 2010 |access-date=October 9, 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-15-sp-3736-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |last=Friend |first=Tom |title=Their passes once crossed in a pick-up game: Steve Pelluer: now he's receiving ayes from Dallas |date=November 15, 1986 |access-date=October 9, 2017}}}} His widow Jodee (née Gustafson) 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 {{nowrap|of Arnie's.}}

Brother Steve (born 1962) was the starting quarterback for rival Washington and in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys;{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/11/16/cowboys-5th-round-gamble-on-pelluer-is-paying-dividends/ |work=Chicago Tribune |last=Anderson |first=Andy |agency=(Dallas Morning News) |title= Cowboys' 5th-round gamble on Pelluer is paying dividends |date=November 16, 1986 |access-date=October 9, 2017 }} 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.{{cite web| url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/wsu-cougar-football/wsu-linebacker-peyton-pelluer-latest-in-long-line-of-cougars/ |work=Seattle Times |last=Loh |first=Stefanie |title=WSU linebacker Peyton Pelluer latest in family's long line of Cougars|date=November 25, 2015 |access-date=October 9, 2017}}

Pelluer's three sons played Division I college football: Tyler at Montana (FCS), Cooper at Washington, and Peyton at Washington State.

At age 64, Pelluer died from a cardiac arrest at a Seattle hospital on June 26, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Jude |first1=Adam |title=Scott Pelluer, standout linebacker at Washington State and NFL, dies at 64 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/wsu-cougar-football/scott-pelluer-standout-linebacker-at-washington-state-and-nfl-dies-at-64/ |website=The Seattle Times |date=27 June 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023}}

• {{Footballstats |nfl= |pfr=PellSc20 }}
• [https://ihsmemorial.org/class-of-1977/scott-john-pelluer/ Interlake High School Memorial Wall]

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Cowboys1981DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelluer, Scott}}

Category:1959 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:American football linebackers

Category:Arizona Wildcats football coaches

Category:Boise State Broncos football coaches

Category:New Orleans Saints players

Category:Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football coaches

Category:Washington Huskies football coaches

Category:Washington State Cougars football players

Category:Dallas Cowboys players

Category:Washington State University alumni

Category:High school football coaches in Washington (state)

Category:Sportspeople from Yakima, Washington

Category:Players of American football from Washington (state)