JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed OL Brandon Linder on the reserve/retired list, the team announced today.
Statement from General Manager Trent Baalke:
Congratulations to Brandon Linder and his family on an excellent NFL career. Brandon spent the entirety of his career here in Jacksonville and earned the respect of his teammates, the fans and everyone within the Jaguars organization. He became the first player in franchise history to earn the distinction of a gold jersey patch representative of being a five-time captain. Off the field, he represented the team with pride as an ambassador in the community. For everything he’s contributed both on and off the field, we thank him and wish him the best in retirement.
Statement from Offensive Lineman Brandon Linder:
To the city of Jacksonville,
Eight years ago, you welcomed me like a family member and have continued to support me unconditionally. I have grown to love this city, where I have put down roots with my family, made lifelong friends, and cultivated my passion for the outdoors. After much reflection, I have realized that the man I currently aspire to be is no longer aligning with the person I must become to play this game. It is at this time that I have decided to close this chapter of my life and retire from the NFL.
I started playing football when I was seven and I have always played with my whole heart for the opportunity to win. I have spent most of my life sacrificing my body, mind, and time in order to fulfill my dreams. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities that were presented to me and all the doors that have opened because of football. I have learned valuable life lessons and have had many unforgettable experiences that I will cherish forever. I am thankful to my teammates, coaches, family, and friends for helping me grow in the sport and support me in becoming a master at my craft.
To my teammates, I want to thank you for sacrificing yourselves entirely to the sport. The experiences that we have gone through together is why the brotherhood that we have created is so special. I will miss that the most.
I am grateful to be able to fulfill my goal of retiring a lifetime Jaguar. Jacksonville will remain my home. I am excited to chase new dreams and I’m looking forward to all of the great things to come in the future.
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JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars announced today that Cedric Scott has been promoted to the team’s head strength and conditioning coach.
Scott spent the last 10 seasons with the Jaguars as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
“Cedric has been an outstanding leader in our strength and conditioning department for several years,” said General Manager Trent Baalke. “We met with several qualified candidates, and it became clear that Cedric was the best fit to lead our program. His familiarity with our players and NFL playing experience gives him a unique perspective that will be valuable to our team. Cedric will work closely with Coach Pederson and Jeff Ferguson, our vice president of player health and performance, to help our players improve both on and off the field.”
Prior to joining the Jaguars, Scott worked at the University of North Carolina in the strength and conditioning department in 2012. He previously served three years (2009-11) at the University of Southern Mississippi on the strength and conditioning staff, serving his last two years as the head strength and conditioning coach for the men’s basketball program. He was a graduate assistant in 2008.
Scott was a standout defensive end for Southern Mississippi, where he received his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology and his master’s degree in sports administration. He earned All-America honors as a senior defensive end and was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2000. In 2015, Scott was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame after a stellar four-year career that resulted in three Conference USA Championships (1996, 1997 and 1999) and career totals of 199 tackles, including 47.0 tackles for loss, and 28.0 sacks.
He was a fourth-round draft pick for the New York Giants in 2001 and played several years in the NFL. He also spent time with the Scottish Claymores of the World League in 2004 and was part of the Canadian Football League’s 2005 Grey Cup Championship team with the Edmonton Eskimos. That same year, the defensive line broke the team record for the most sacks.
A native of Gulfport, Miss., Scott and his wife, Dorian, have two sons, Cedric Jr. and Cameron.
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