by Mike Matzinger
David Montgomery, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a professional football player whose journey to the NFL was shaped as much by his years in Scouting as by his time on the gridiron. In the summer of 2013, Montgomery was a 16-year-old Scout preparing to achieve the rank of Eagle, a milestone he would complete the following year with Troop 772. His Eagle project focused on collecting toiletries for people experiencing homelessness, reflecting the service-driven mindset that Scouting instilled in him. That same summer, while at the National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, he found himself standing at the top of a skate park bowl, nervously attempting his first ride on a skateboard. His first attempt ended in a wipeout, but in true Montgomery fashion, he got back up, tried again, and succeeded. For him, the moment symbolized what Scouting was all about—resilience, teamwork, and encouragement from others.
Montgomery’s Scouting journey began as a Cub Scout, where one of his earliest memories was building a bright yellow Pinewood Derby car with his stepfather that went on to win his pack’s race. With the support of his family, he stayed active in Scouting through his teenage years, eventually earning Eagle in 2014. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, also an Eagle Scout, while later serving as a role model for his younger brother, who achieved the same rank years later. Scouting not only taught him outdoor skills and service but also gave him leadership and communication tools that would become essential on the football field.
In high school, Montgomery balanced his passion for Scouting with his growing talent for football. A quarterback at Cincinnati’s Mount Healthy High School, he relied on lessons learned in Scouting—such as leading diverse groups and communicating effectively—to guide his teammates. He went on to play college football at Iowa State University, where he rushed for 2,925 yards, the sixth most in school history. In 2019, Montgomery was drafted by the Chicago Bears, where he played four seasons before signing an $18 million contract with the Detroit Lions in 2023. That same year, his consistency and skill were recognized when he was named among the NFL’s Top 100 players as voted by his peers.
Montgomery has often reflected on how Scouting provided stability during difficult times in his youth, including the loss of a family friend to violence and other personal challenges. He credits Scouting as a safe haven, a place where he could be himself and learn to face adversity with strength and determination. The program, he says, gave him the discipline and perspective that carried him through college and into his professional career. Now a father himself, Montgomery has expressed his desire to see his son one day join Scouting, believing it can provide him with the same foundation of resilience, leadership, and community that helped shape his own life.
