Tragedy has struck a member of the Chicago Bears as Scott Harrington, the father of undrafted tight end free agent Scooter Harrington died on Aug. 3. The 59-year-old was struck by a New York-bound train near the Cos Cob station in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Reports have been scattered that the death might have been a suicide. Police have not confirmed that theory.
Scott Harrington, captain of the 1985 Cotton Bowl team passed away earlier this week at age 59.
Thoughts are with his family. pic.twitter.com/qoUNpiVfsU
— A.J. Black (@AJBlack247) August 6, 2022
According to his obituary, Scott graduated from Boston College, where he also played football and was captain of the 1985 Cotton Bowl team. Scott coached his two sons in football but was renowned locally as the football of Old Greenwich and Riverside in Connecticut for most of the football-playing youth.
He coached the Putnam Generals for 15 years, eventually becoming president of the team while serving on the Greenwich Youth Football League board. Scott attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and worked at JP Morgan after college.
Scott was instrumental in the burgeoning football career of his son “Scooter,” who was the only tight end signed by the Chicago Bears. He was acquired after choosing their seven picks in the 2021 draft, including a first-round pick from Ohio State, quarterback Justin Fields, and former Pac-12 cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. from Oregon.
The Greenwich Old Timers Athletic Association is deeply saddened by the passing of our longtime Board member, Scott Harrington. Scott was a tireless advocate for youth sports, volunteering countless hours on our board and coaching for the GYFL Putnam Generals football team. pic.twitter.com/AWNVr0Cf7v
— Greenwich Old Timers (@GRNWCHOldTimers) August 9, 2022
Five players from Stanford signed as undrafted free agents after the 2021 draft, and Scooter Harrington was part of that pack. However, he has yet to play a game.
“Excited for this opportunity and excited to get to work!” Harrington posted on Instagram post after the initial announcement.
Standing at 6 feet 5 and 250 pounds, Scooter played five seasons at Stanford, delivering two touchdowns and 17 receptions for 103 yards. Scooter played in 42 games while at Stanford and started in seven; however, it wasn’t until the 2020 season that he scored his two touchdowns. He was named a Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention twice, and in 2019, he was selected to the Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll.
Scooter stood out at Greenwich High School standout and was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in Connecticut and a four-star recruit by ESPN in the 2016 class. He recorded 24 receptions for 240 yards, two touchdowns, 4.5 sacks, seven pass interferences, one interception, and two forced fumbles in his academic career.
Scooter Harrington,
a former Greenwich High standout š player
played 5 seasons at #Stanford.
He was signed as an undrafted free agent with
the #Chicago Bears.— MatterThatMatters (@WillMatter4) August 6, 2022
During his time at Greenwich, Scooter was a phenom with accolades like becoming a two-time USA Today All-State, two-time All-State first-team selection, 2016 Under Armour All-America, and a 2015 Hearst Connecticut Media Super 33 honoree, according to local Connecticut reports.
Harrington followed other Connecticut players that joined the NFL in 2021 and were influenced or coached by his father. The Ravens selected Ben Mason with the No. 184 overall pick, followed shortly afterward by Windsor’s Jason Pinnock, who was selected by the New York Jets with the 175th overall pick.
Also, Tarik Black, who transferred to Texas after an injury-saddled receiver tenure at the University of Michigan, was picked up by the Indianapolis Colts. Lastly, Tyler Coyle, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys, was a two-time New Haven Register All-State defensive back who played at the University of Connecticut before transferring to Purdue.
Scott Harrington was influential in both Connecticut and New England football, helping his son and many more make their athletic dreams come true.
