NFL and Philadelphia Eagles player Boston Scott joining Dignitas for Rocket League

NFL running back Boston Scott is joining the likes of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders in the exclusive club of two-sport professional athletes, signing with Dignitas to become a competitive Rocket League player and content creator, the org announced Wednesday.

Scott, who’s currently a member of pro football’s Philadelphia Eagles, will serve as a substitute for Dignitas, which competes in the Rocket League Championship Series’ European region.

Although other professional athletes have been involved in esports, Scott is believed to be the first active member of a roster signed to a major org.

“Gaming has always been a big part of my life,” Scott said in a statement. “It has had an impact on me since I was young that has made it bigger than just a hobby that I enjoy. So the fact that I'm able to join Dignitas is a dream come true.”

Bigger than a hobby is an understatement.

Competing under the gamertag “B0ston,” Scott maintains Grand Champion status in Rocket League, placing him in the top 0.52% of the more than 6 million competitive players around the world, according to a news release. He also has become a well-known and fervent supporter of RLCS on social media and other outlets.

Scott isn’t quite a household name among NFL fans but has become a fan-favorite in Philadelphia as a role player who’s clutched up in pivotal moments. He’s increasingly caught the attention of fantasy football enthusiasts as well, starting in four games and scoring a career-high eight touchdowns last season (including the playoffs).

Now entering his fifth NFL season, Scott is set to become a restricted free agent in March, meaning he will likely remain with the Eagles in 2022 -- assuming he doesn’t ditch football completely for esports.

“No matter what is in front of me, I’ve learned how to adapt and overcome,” Scott said. “I’m excited to see what that leads to with Dignitas and the best Rocket League team in the world.”

It’s unclear when Scott could crack the lineup for Dignitas, which has a talented roster comprised of Joris “Joreuz” Robben, Jack “ApparentlyJack” Benton and Kyle “Scuba Killa” Robertson.

However, Michael Prindiville, CEO of Dignitas parent company New Meta Entertainment, described the addition of Scott as a “landmark signing” for the org and esports, and signaled Scott will indeed compete this year while also shedding light on some content creation plans.

"Not only are Boston's competitive achievements in Rocket League astounding, but his natural charisma and infectious enthusiasm for gaming fits perfectly with the Dignitas brand — and we look forward to seeing him compete competitively for Dignitas Rocket League in 2022,” Prindiville said in a statement.

“Additionally, through an exciting new content series the community will witness and engage in Boston's grind to the top, and he's psyched to meet fellow Rocket Leaguers during an upcoming activation at an RLCS event in North America. Stay tuned to witness Boston’s gaming journey,” the statement said.

As NFL activities traditionally ramp up with the opening of training camps at the end of July and last into the next calendar year, it would seem Scott’s debut would likely need to happen before that.

The 2021-22 RLCS World Championship is scheduled to run July 22-31.

Dignitas, two-time world champions, presently sit at No. 2 in the EU rankings, with their most recent tournament win coming at the region’s BMW Rocket League Open in November.

Lead image credit: Dignitas