Scott Fujita
No headshot available
Career Summary
Scott Fujita was an NFL linebacker who played 11 seasons and won Super Bowl XLIV with New Orleans.
His career included Kansas City, Dallas, New Orleans, and Cleveland. NFL statistics list 143 games, 664 total tackles, 23.5 sacks, seven interceptions, and 11 forced fumbles.
Section reviewed
Early Life
Fujita was born April 28, 1979, in Ventura, California.
California's athletic biography lists his birthplace and date of birth.
Section reviewed
Sources for this section
High School
Fujita attended Rio Mesa High School, where he played football, basketball, and track and field.
Cal says he played safety and tight end, recorded 118 tackles as a senior, and earned first-team Channel League and Ventura County honors in football and basketball.
Section reviewed
Sources for this section
College Career
Fujita began at Cal as a walk-on safety, moved to linebacker after his first season, and earned a scholarship.
In 2000, he started all 11 games and produced 41 tackles, four sacks, and 13 tackles for loss. He finished his Cal career with 64 tackles and 4.5 sacks and earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic recognition as a senior.
Section reviewed
Sources for this section
Path to the NFL
Kansas City selected Fujita in the fifth round, 143rd overall, of the 2002 NFL Draft.
The Chiefs say he played all 16 games as a rookie, including nine starts, and later led the club with 111 tackles in 2003.
Section reviewed
NFL Career
Fujita played three seasons for Kansas City, one for Dallas, four for New Orleans, and three for Cleveland.
NFL records show his most productive tackling season was 2003, when he recorded 99 total tackles. With New Orleans, he posted three consecutive 100-tackle seasons according to the Saints' media guide.
Section reviewed
Career Accomplishments
Fujita was a Super Bowl XLIV champion and a central contributor to the Saints' linebacker group from 2006 through 2009.
The Saints credit him with 417 tackles, 7.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and six takeaways in four seasons. He recorded 83 total tackles in both 2004 and 2006, his highest NFL totals.
Section reviewed
Playing Style
Fujita was a versatile linebacker whose move from safety at Cal helped shape his coverage and pursuit responsibilities.
Cal's biography notes the transition from a 210-pound walk-on safety to linebacker and highlights improved technique in shedding blockers. The Saints described him as a strongside linebacker with a nose for the ball.
Section reviewed
Legacy
Fujita's football legacy pairs an underdog college path with a durable NFL career and a championship season in New Orleans.
His rise from Cal walk-on to fifth-round NFL pick and 143 regular-season games illustrates the sustained development that defined his career.
Section reviewed
19756, 00-0021259, 1979-04-28, Scott Fujita, Scott, Fujita
MFT PLAYER RANKINGS
Current player ranking
Compare current players by position using the transparent MFT statistical model.