Scales set to reach milestone that once seemed impossible

Scales credits Brandie with helping him persevere throughout his journey.

“My wife was a rock for me because there were so many highs and lows, and she just kept my head level and believed in me the whole time,” Scales said. “I’m so grateful to have had her by my side the entire time.”

“He never gave up on himself,” Brandie said. “He’s always been his biggest believer. He’s not cocky at all. He’s the most humble person ever. But he always said, ‘I just need to impress one person.’ And that was the thing that kept him going. He was like, ‘I just need to impress one coach, one scout, I have to change one person’s mind.’ He used that as motivation.”

The opportunity that Scales had been waiting for finally came late in the 2014 season. After Ravens long-snapper Kevin McDermott was placed on injured reserve, Scales signed Dec. 18 and made his NFL debut three days later. He then played in Baltimore’s regular season finale and two playoff contests.

Scales signed with the Bears midway through the 2015 season and has played for them ever since, though he missed the entire 2017 campaign with a torn ACL he sustained in a preseason game. He is currently the longest tenured player on the Bears roster and is extremely grateful, given his background, to play in his 100th game with the storied franchise.

“It’s everything,” said the 34-year-old. “Every day I show up, I’m the happiest guy in the building because it took me three-and-a-half years to get here, and I realize how lucky and blessed I am to be here. That’s why I’m always smiling, I’m always joking, because I know in the blink of a second it could be gone.”

Brandie will also have a big grin on her face Sunday, cheering from the Soldier Field stands as her husband reaches a milestone that once seemed impossible.

“It’s really cool,” she said. “It honestly takes my breath away. It took us so long to get here, and this is something I never thought we would see. There were times we didn’t think we would see a regular season game or a postseason game or 10 games. So it’s so special. It’s something that we never take for granted. Every single game I sit there, I just have to pinch myself because I can’t believe this is our life.”