Noel Scarlett facts for kids

Noel Scarlett (born January 21, 1974 – September 1, 2021) was an American football player. He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was part of teams like the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and Dallas Cowboys. He also played for the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. Noel Scarlett played college football at Langston University.

Early Life and College Football

Noel Scarlett went to Elbert County High School. There, he played as a lineman on both offense and defense. In his junior year, he earned honors like All-area and Super Senior from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, he did not play football during his senior year of high school.

After high school, he worked for two years at a produce plant. He even became a supervisor there. Later, he received a football scholarship to Langston University, which is part of the NAIA.

College Playing Career

In his second year at Langston, he became a starting defensive tackle. He made 40 tackles, with 6 of them stopping plays behind the line of scrimmage. He also had 2 sacks, which means he tackled the opposing quarterback.

During his third year, he continued to play well. He recorded 40 tackles and 6 sacks for his team.

In his final year, Noel Scarlett was a leader on the team. He had his best season with 9.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. He even got 3 sacks in one game against Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He finished his college career with a total of 120 tackles and 17.5 sacks.

Professional Football Journey

Noel Scarlett began his professional football career after college. He played for several teams in different leagues.

Minnesota Vikings (First Time)

The Minnesota Vikings chose Noel Scarlett in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft. He was the 236th player picked overall. However, he was released by the team on September 5, 1999.

New England Patriots

On December 22, 1999, the New England Patriots signed him to their practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. He was released a week later but re-signed on January 5, 2000.

In 2000, he played for the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. This league helped players develop their skills. He made 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the Claymores. His team's defense was very strong, allowing only 76.3 rushing yards per game. They even reached World Bowl 2000, which is like the championship game for NFL Europe. The Patriots released him on August 1, 2000.

Miami Dolphins

Noel Scarlett then signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent on August 3, 2000. A free agent is a player who is not under contract with any team. He was with the Dolphins for a short time and was released on August 14.

Kansas City Chiefs

On October 25, 2000, he joined the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys signed Noel Scarlett from the Chiefs' practice squad on December 15, 2000. The Cowboys needed help on their defensive line due to injuries. He played as a backup in the last game of the season against the Tennessee Titans. He was released by the Cowboys on August 6, 2001.

Tulsa Talons

In 2002, Noel Scarlett played for the Tulsa Talons in the AF2 league. He played in 5 games. During these games, he had 8 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack. He also caused two fumbles and recovered one.

Minnesota Vikings (Second Time)

In July 2002, the Minnesota Vikings signed him again as a free agent. However, he was released on August 17.

Calgary Stampeders

In 2003, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was released by the team on June 5.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Noel Scarlett became a football coach. In 2016, he worked as a defensive line coach at Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas.

In 2017, he had an internship with the Minnesota Vikings. He helped as a defensive line assistant during their training camp. Later in 2017, he became the defensive coordinator at Coram Deo Academy. He also served as an assistant coach for the Texas College Steers.