Bart Scott
A ferocious NFL linebacker who rose from an undrafted free agent to a Pro Bowl enforcer, famous for his passionate 'Can't Wait!' playoff declaration.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American football player·Birthday: August 18·Generation X
Biography
Bart Scott's path to the NFL was anything but guaranteed. After playing college football at Southern Illinois, he entered the league the hard way, signing with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He embodied the Ravens' defensive ethos: tough, intelligent, and relentlessly physical. Scott developed into a defensive cornerstone alongside Ray Lewis, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2006 with a season of relentless tackles and disruptive plays. In 2009, he took his intensity to the New York Jets, where he became a central figure in Rex Ryan's aggressive defenses. Scott's career is a testament to self-made success, defined by his hard-hitting style and a fiery personality that made him a fan favorite and a formidable opponent for a decade.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bart was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bart Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Bart's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected to the NFL Pro Bowl in 2006 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
- Played 11 seasons in the NFL as a starting linebacker for the Ravens and New York Jets.
- Made the NFL as an undrafted free agent, becoming a defensive leader for multiple teams.
- Recorded over 800 combined tackles, 27.5 sacks, and 13 interceptions in his career.
Did You Know?
His post-game interview after a 2010 playoff win, where he exclaimed 'Can't wait!', became an iconic NFL moment.
He hosts a sports talk radio show in New York, transitioning from player to analyst.
He played his college football at Southern Illinois University, not a traditional NFL powerhouse.
“Can't wait!”
