Scruggs was born in Cincinnati, and lived in the city's Winton Terrace housing project[1] before joining the local Boys Hope Girls Hope residential program in 2003.[2] As a student at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, he lived in the Boys Hope House on campus. After playing the quad drums in the school marching band for three years and varsity basketball for two, he reluctantly joined the football team his senior year, at the behest of head coach Steve Specht. Scruggs graduated in 2008.[3][4]
Scruggs was selected as the 25th pick in the seventh round, 232nd overall, in the 2012 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.[6][7][8]NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks stated that Scruggs is a competitive defensive end with toughness and will have to battle for a backup spot on the Seahawks' roster.[9] On August 27, 2013, the Seahawks placed Scruggs on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.[10] The Seahawks announced on August 31, 2015, they waived Scruggs, making him a free agent.[11]
Chicago Bears
On December 31, 2015, Scruggs signed with the Chicago Bears. On January 3, 2016, Scruggs recorded his third career sack against the Detroit Lions.[12]
During the 2016 offseason, Scruggs switched from the defensive end position to tight end.[13][14] He was released by the Bears on September 27, 2016.[15]
New England Patriots
On October 1, 2016, Scruggs was signed by the New England Patriots.[16] He was placed on injured reserve on October 15, 2016, with a knee injury after being inactive for the first two games he was on the Patriots roster.[17] Scruggs would not play when the Patriots won Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017. Scruggs won his second Super Bowl championship after the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34–28 in overtime.[18]
On March 3, 2022, it was reported that Scruggs accepted an assistant defensive line coach position with the New York Jets.[21]
In 2023, Scruggs left the NFL to follow former Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell to coach the defensive line for the Wisconsin Badgers.
On March 6, 2024, Scruggs was officially hired by the University of Michigan to coach the defensive line. On March 21, 2024, Greg Scruggs resigned following an operating while intoxicated arrest on March 16, 2024. Scruggs did not coach a practice or game while with the Michigan Wolverines.[22]
^Reedy, Joe (January 30, 2013). "St. Xavier's Steve Specht is NFL High School Coach of the Year". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Retrieved February 1, 2013. On Friday, head coach Steve Specht will be named the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year. ... Specht ... was nominated for the award by rookie Seahawks defensive end Greg Scruggs.
