Scott Brunner
Scott Lee Brunner (born March 24, 1957) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons from 1980 to 1985, most notably as a starter for the New York Giants.[1] Brunner attended the University of Delaware, where he was a two-year letterman as the starting quarterback under Hall of Fame coach Tubby Raymond from 1978 to 1979.[2] In his senior year, he led the Fightin' Blue Hens to a 13-1 record and the 1979 NCAA Division II national championship, defeating Youngstown State 38-21 in the title game.[3] For his contributions, Brunner was inducted into the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 as part of the Class of 1980.[4] Selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round (145th overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft out of Delaware, Brunner initially served as a backup before becoming the starter in 1981 following an injury to Phil Simms.[5] Over his Giants tenure from 1980 to 1983, he appeared in 57 games, starting 30, and accumulated 6,121 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 48 interceptions.[1] His most productive season came in 1982 amid the players' strike-shortened year, when he threw for 2,017 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine starts, with 298 attempts, 161 completions, and 9 interceptions.[1] Traded to the Denver Broncos in 1984 (where he was placed on injured reserve), then to the Green Bay Packers in 1985 before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals later that year, Brunner appeared in 16 games with the Cardinals and no starts, throwing for 336 yards, 1 touchdown, and 6 interceptions in his final NFL action.[1] Across his professional career, he played in 73 games, starting 30, and finished with 6,457 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 54 interceptions.[1] In retirement, Brunner has remained involved in football as a coach and trainer, founding the Scott Brunner Quarterback Academy and working with aspiring players, including mentoring University of Delaware alum and NFL quarterback Joe Flacco.[6]Early Life
Birth and Family Background
Scott Brunner was born on March 24, 1957, in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. As the eldest of seven children, he grew up in a large family that frequently relocated due to his father's coaching career, spending much of his early years in Middletown, New York, before moving to West Chester, Pennsylvania, and later Lawrenceville, New Jersey.[8] His father, John Brunner, was a high school football coach who later advanced to college positions at Villanova, Temple, and Princeton, and eventually worked as an assistant coach and scout in the NFL, including with the Detroit Lions.[8] Brunner's mother, a former college basketball player and women's field-hockey referee, contributed to a balanced household environment where sports were present but not overwhelmingly dominant; Brunner later recalled that his father acted primarily as a parent rather than a coach at home, fostering a supportive rather than pressure-filled atmosphere.[8] Among his siblings was brother Todd Brunner, who followed in the family tradition by becoming an NFL scout, including with the San Francisco 49ers and later the Seattle Seahawks.[9][10] Brunner's early development outside of athletics reflected the mobility of his family's lifestyle, with limited details on specific non-sport interests during his pre-adolescent years, though the household emphasized education and family dynamics over intense athletic specialization. His initial exposure to football came through informal pickup games with makeshift equipment and observing his father's practices, which he attended regularly as a child.[8] At age 13, he tried out for a youth team in Middletown but was pulled out by his father due to concerns over unsafe coaching practices, highlighting the protective family influence on his early athletic pursuits.[8] This foundation transitioned into organized Pop Warner leagues in Middletown, setting the stage for his later high school involvement.[6]High School Football
Scott Brunner attended Henderson High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he first emerged as a quarterback on the varsity football team, displaying early promise in leading offensive plays and developing his arm strength under competitive conditions.[11] His time at Henderson laid the foundational skills for his passing game, emphasizing accuracy and decision-making in high-pressure situations typical of Pennsylvania's interscholastic leagues.[6] Later, Brunner transferred to Lawrence High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, continuing his role as the starting quarterback and further refining his abilities against stronger regional competition.[12] There, he starred in multiple seasons, contributing to divisional successes and earning recognition as a multi-sport athlete who also lettered in basketball and track, which enhanced his overall athleticism and footwork on the gridiron.[13] A key influence during this period was his father, John Brunner, a longtime high school and college coach, who instilled a rigorous work ethic and strategic mindset that shaped Scott's poised, fundamentals-driven playing style.[6] Brunner's high school performances, marked by consistent quarterbacking that showcased his leadership and passing prowess, drew interest from college programs, culminating in a scholarship offer from the University of Delaware, which recognized his potential as a Division I-AA prospect.[6] This recruitment process highlighted his growth from a regional talent to a recruit with professional aspirations, supported by his family's encouragement of his athletic endeavors.[14]College Career
University of Delaware
Scott Brunner enrolled at the University of Delaware in 1975 and joined the Fightin' Blue Hens football team, competing in NCAA Division II under head coach Harold "Tubby" Raymond, a Hall of Fame figure renowned for his tactical innovations and long tenure leading the team.[4] The Fightin' Blue Hens employed Raymond's signature Wing-T offense, a versatile system emphasizing misdirection, motion, and a balanced mix of running and passing plays to exploit defensive alignments.[15] This offensive scheme, refined over decades at Delaware, fostered team cohesion and required quarterbacks like Brunner to master precise timing and decision-making in a fast-paced environment.[16] Brunner saw limited action during his freshman year in 1975 and continued in reserve roles through 1977 without lettering, gaining experience in practice while learning the intricacies of Raymond's system.[17] He lettered as a backup quarterback in 1978 behind Jeff Komlo, helping the team advance to the NCAA Division II championship game.[4] In 1979, as a senior, Brunner earned the starting position, guiding the offense through a 13-1 regular season and deep postseason run in the Division II playoffs.[3] Academically, Brunner pursued a degree in accounting, balancing rigorous coursework with football demands in a campus environment that emphasized both athletic and intellectual development.[18] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1980, crediting the holistic experience at Delaware—including Raymond's mentorship and the structured team culture—for shaping his maturity and preparation for future challenges.[8] This blend of on-field apprenticeship and off-field discipline marked a pivotal phase in his growth as a leader and competitor.[19]Achievements and Records
During his senior season in 1979, Scott Brunner earned first-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association after leading the University of Delaware to a 13-1 record and the NCAA Division II national championship. He was also named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Year that year, recognizing his pivotal role in the team's success under coach Tubby Raymond's innovative Wing-T offense. These accolades underscored Brunner's emergence as one of the top quarterbacks in Division II football. Brunner's statistical output in 1979 established several benchmarks for the Blue Hens program. He completed 134 of 268 passes for 2,401 yards and 24 touchdowns, tying the school single-season record for touchdown passes (a mark that ranked third all-time at the time) and achieving a 50% completion rate. His passing efficiency rating of 133.8 placed third nationally in Division II, while his 24 touchdown passes in 1979 ranked among the program's historical leaders. Additionally, Brunner recorded five 200-yard passing games that year, including consecutive performances of 296 yards against Youngstown State and 285 yards against Colgate. Memorable performances highlighted Brunner's clutch play in high-stakes situations, particularly during the 1979 playoffs. In the national championship game against Youngstown State, he threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, tying a school record for touchdown passes in a playoff game and a Division II playoff single-game mark. Earlier in the postseason, Brunner completed 8 of 11 passes for multiple touchdowns in a first-round rout of Alabama A&M, helping secure a 27-7 victory. His 252-yard effort against rival Villanova, despite four interceptions, powered a narrow 21-20 win that kept Delaware's undefeated streak alive en route to the title. Brunner's contributions had a lasting impact on the University of Delaware football program, elevating its national profile and inspiring future generations of Blue Hens quarterbacks. He was inducted into the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame in 2002 and the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004, cementing his legacy as a cornerstone of the 1979 championship team.Professional Career
Draft and New York Giants Tenure
Scott Brunner was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 145th overall, of the 1980 NFL Draft, following a standout college career at the University of Delaware that showcased his poise and leadership, boosting his draft appeal despite coming from a Division I-AA program.[1][5] As a rookie in 1980, Brunner served primarily as the backup quarterback to Phil Simms, appearing in 16 games but starting only three, where the Giants posted a 1-2 record under his direction amid a transitional season for the franchise.[1] The following year, in 1981, an injury to Simms elevated Brunner to the starting role for six games, during which he guided the team to a 4-2 record, including a pivotal late-season surge that secured a wild-card playoff berth; notable victories included a 27-21 upset over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Game, marking the Giants' first postseason appearance since 1963.[1][20] This success came under head coach Ray Perkins, as the Giants improved to 9-7 overall, reflecting Brunner's ability to stabilize the offense during a rebuilding phase plagued by defensive inconsistencies and offensive line issues.[21] In 1982, new head coach Bill Parcells named Brunner the full-time starter over Simms, Rutledge, and others, leading the team through the strike-shortened nine-game season with a 4-5 record that highlighted both flashes of potential and ongoing struggles, such as narrow losses to divisional rivals that kept the Giants out of playoff contention.[9][1] The year underscored the team's evolving identity under Parcells, with Brunner benefiting from defensive reinforcements but facing challenges from a run-heavy scheme and protection breakdowns. By 1983, Brunner retained the starting job initially, but his performance faltered with a 3-9 record in 12 starts, marred by turnovers and mounting pressure from Parcells' emphasis on accountability; he was benched in favor of Jeff Rutledge late in the season as the Giants stumbled to a 3-12-1 finish, prompting his trade to the Denver Broncos on April 26, 1984, for a fourth-round draft pick (#105, Gary Reasons) amid the franchise's search for quarterback stability.[22][1][11]Later NFL Teams
Following his tenure with the New York Giants, Scott Brunner was traded to the Denver Broncos on April 26, 1984, in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, where he was signed as a backup quarterback to John Elway.[23] However, Brunner saw no regular-season action after being placed on injured reserve on August 28, 1984, due to a knee infection stemming from a training camp injury, causing him to miss the entire 1984 season.[24][11] Brunner was then traded to the Green Bay Packers on April 26, 1985, for a future draft choice, serving briefly as a backup to Lynn Dickey during training camp and preseason.[25][26] On August 27, 1985, the Packers traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for an undisclosed draft pick, where he spent the 1985 season as the primary backup to Neil Lomax, appearing in 16 games without starting but entering in relief situations, such as completing a 40-yard touchdown pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in October 1985.[24][27] Over his six-year NFL career, Brunner appeared in 73 games total, primarily as a journeyman backup after his early starting role with the Giants, hampered by recurring injuries like the knee issue and stiff competition from established quarterbacks.[1] He was released by the Cardinals on August 27, 1986, effectively retiring at age 28 after the 1985 season.[28][1]Playing Statistics
Regular Season Performance
Scott Brunner's NFL regular season career spanned five seasons from 1980 to 1985, during which he appeared in 73 games, starting 30, and accumulated 6,457 passing yards with 29 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown.[1] His overall completion percentage stood at 49.0%, with a passer rating of 56.2, reflecting a journeyman role marked by inconsistent efficiency and high interception totals.[1] The following table summarizes his year-by-year regular season passing statistics, highlighting key metrics such as games started, completion percentage, and passer rating, alongside rushing touchdowns for completeness.| Year | Team | G | GS | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rate | Rush TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | NYG | 16 | 3 | 52/112 | 46.4 | 610 | 4 | 6 | 53.1 | 0 |
| 1981 | NYG | 16 | 6 | 79/190 | 41.6 | 978 | 5 | 11 | 42.8 | 0 |
| 1982 | NYG | 9 | 9 | 161/298 | 54.0 | 2,017 | 10 | 9 | 73.9 | 1 |
| 1983 | NYG | 16 | 12 | 190/386 | 49.2 | 2,516 | 9 | 22 | 54.3 | 0 |
| 1985 | STL | 16 | 0 | 30/60 | 50.0 | 336 | 1 | 6 | 33.1 | 0 |
| Career | - | 73 | 30 | 512/1,046 | 49.0 | 6,457 | 29 | 54 | 56.2 | 1 |