Brian Dawkins
Encyclopedia
Brian Patrick Dawkins is an American football
safety for the Denver Broncos
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Clemson
.
An eight-time Pro Bowl
selection, Dawkins is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the 20/20 Club (20 sacks, 20 interceptions).
, Dawkins finished his career with 247 tackles and 11 interceptions. He was a 2nd team All-American
selection as a senior when his team-high six interceptions tied him for the conference lead. He was named the first-team strong safety on Clemson's all-centennial team in 1995 and was selected to their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Dawkins was drafted in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft
by the Philadelphia Eagles
. As a rookie in 1996, he replaced Eric Zomalt
as the starting free safety, remaining in that position throughout his 13 year career in Philadelphia. In 1996, he started 13 of the 14 games he played in, recording 75 tackles
, a sack
, and three interceptions. Dawkins' rookie season would also see the trio of himself, Bobby Taylor
and Troy Vincent
form in the Eagles secondary that formed the core of the Eagles defense through 2003, and was instrumental in placing the Eagles among the best defenses in the league.
Dawkins made his first of seven Pro Bowl
s in 1999
, earning a reputation as a hard-hitting ball-hawk. His emergence as one of the premier safties in the NFL earned him the role of Eagles' defensive captain, and a mainstay on the Eagles. In fact, Allen Iverson
's departure from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2006 made Dawkins the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia sports.
In 2002 in a game versus the Houston Texans
he became the first player in NFL history to record a sack
, an interception, forced fumble, and touchdown
reception
in a single game. This performance, as well as his consistent Pro Bowl-caliber play, earned him a seven-year contract extension at the conclusion of the 2002 season.
In 2004, after three consecutive NFC Championship defeats, the Eagles finally advanced to the Super Bowl with a win over the Atlanta Falcons; the Eagles ultimately would lose to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, 24-21. It was Dawkins' first and only Super Bowl appearance.
During the 2008 season, he became the tenth member of the 20/20 Club and broke the Eagles record for games played surpassing Harold Carmichael
who had 180. The 2008 season was a memorable one for Dawkins and the Eagles, as the 5-5-1 team went on a 4-1 surge to make an improbable run to the NFC Championship game where they lost to the Arizona Cardinals
, in what turned out to be Dawkins' final game as an Eagle.
He finished his career with the Eagles starting 182 of 183 games, recording 898 tackles
, 34 interceptions, and 21 sacks.
. He joined another teammate, Correll Buckhalter
, who also signed with the Broncos. The contract includes $7.2 million guaranteed and a termination clause that says Dawkins can opt out of the contract after two years and receive an extra $1.8 million, virtually making the contract for two years and $9 million. Dawkins can also earn an additional $10 million in performance incentives.
On December 29, 2009, the NFL announced that Dawkins was the starter of the AFC Pro Bowl team as a strong safety. Dawkins played in 16 of 16 games for the 2009 Broncos. He totaled 116 tackles and 2 interceptions. In 2010, Dawkins had an injury shortened season compiling 66 tackles and 2 interceptions while only playing in 11 games.
While with the Eagles, Dawkins had been a resident of Voorhees Township, New Jersey
, but put his house there up for sale after joining the Broncos.
After Dawkins signed with the Broncos in 2009, Dan Leone, an Eagles employee who was a gate chief at Lincoln Financial Field
was fired by the Eagles after Leone posted messages on his Facebook
page expressing his disappointment in the team. Dawkins announced that he would give his two allotted game tickets for the 2009 Eagles-Broncos game to Leone, saying, "I felt it would be a good thing, to reach out to that individual and just let him know how much I appreciate it."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft
1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
An eight-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection, Dawkins is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the 20/20 Club (20 sacks, 20 interceptions).
College career
A three-year starter at free safety for Clemson UniversityClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, Dawkins finished his career with 247 tackles and 11 interceptions. He was a 2nd team All-American
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection as a senior when his team-high six interceptions tied him for the conference lead. He was named the first-team strong safety on Clemson's all-centennial team in 1995 and was selected to their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Philadelphia Eagles
1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. As a rookie in 1996, he replaced Eric Zomalt
Eric Zomalt
Eric Lee Zomalt is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft and played for the team from 1994−1996. He played for the New York Jets in 1996...
as the starting free safety, remaining in that position throughout his 13 year career in Philadelphia. In 1996, he started 13 of the 14 games he played in, recording 75 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, a sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, and three interceptions. Dawkins' rookie season would also see the trio of himself, Bobby Taylor
Bobby Taylor
Bobby Taylor is the name of:*Bobby Taylor , Canadian football player*Bobby Taylor , American football player*Bobby Taylor , Canadian ice hockey player and broadcaster...
and Troy Vincent
Troy Vincent
Troy Darnell Vincent is a former Defensive Back for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins with the 7th overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.Mr...
form in the Eagles secondary that formed the core of the Eagles defense through 2003, and was instrumental in placing the Eagles among the best defenses in the league.
Dawkins made his first of seven Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s in 1999
2000 Pro Bowl
The 2000 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 6, 2000 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii Attendance— 50,112. The game was broadcast by ABC with a running time of three hours and sixteen minutes. The final score was NFC 51, AFC 31. The AFC coach was Tom Coughlin of Jacksonville.The NFC coach...
, earning a reputation as a hard-hitting ball-hawk. His emergence as one of the premier safties in the NFL earned him the role of Eagles' defensive captain, and a mainstay on the Eagles. In fact, Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
's departure from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2006 made Dawkins the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia sports.
In 2002 in a game versus the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
he became the first player in NFL history to record a sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, an interception, forced fumble, and touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
reception
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
in a single game. This performance, as well as his consistent Pro Bowl-caliber play, earned him a seven-year contract extension at the conclusion of the 2002 season.
In 2004, after three consecutive NFC Championship defeats, the Eagles finally advanced to the Super Bowl with a win over the Atlanta Falcons; the Eagles ultimately would lose to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, 24-21. It was Dawkins' first and only Super Bowl appearance.
During the 2008 season, he became the tenth member of the 20/20 Club and broke the Eagles record for games played surpassing Harold Carmichael
Harold Carmichael
Lee Harold Carmichael is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played 13 seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles , and one season for the Dallas Cowboys . He played college football at Southern University...
who had 180. The 2008 season was a memorable one for Dawkins and the Eagles, as the 5-5-1 team went on a 4-1 surge to make an improbable run to the NFC Championship game where they lost to the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, in what turned out to be Dawkins' final game as an Eagle.
He finished his career with the Eagles starting 182 of 183 games, recording 898 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, 34 interceptions, and 21 sacks.
Denver Broncos
On February 28, 2009, Dawkins signed a five-year, $17 million contract with the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He joined another teammate, Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
, who also signed with the Broncos. The contract includes $7.2 million guaranteed and a termination clause that says Dawkins can opt out of the contract after two years and receive an extra $1.8 million, virtually making the contract for two years and $9 million. Dawkins can also earn an additional $10 million in performance incentives.
On December 29, 2009, the NFL announced that Dawkins was the starter of the AFC Pro Bowl team as a strong safety. Dawkins played in 16 of 16 games for the 2009 Broncos. He totaled 116 tackles and 2 interceptions. In 2010, Dawkins had an injury shortened season compiling 66 tackles and 2 interceptions while only playing in 11 games.
Personal life
In early 2007, Dawkins and his wife gave birth to twin daughters, Chonni and Cionni. Both daughters were born two months premature, but are currently healthy. Dawkins, with his wife, Connie, also have two other children, Brian Jr. and Brionni.While with the Eagles, Dawkins had been a resident of Voorhees Township, New Jersey
Voorhees Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households, and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,424.0 people per square mile . There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of 955.2 per square mile...
, but put his house there up for sale after joining the Broncos.
After Dawkins signed with the Broncos in 2009, Dan Leone, an Eagles employee who was a gate chief at Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
was fired by the Eagles after Leone posted messages on his Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page expressing his disappointment in the team. Dawkins announced that he would give his two allotted game tickets for the 2009 Eagles-Broncos game to Leone, saying, "I felt it would be a good thing, to reach out to that individual and just let him know how much I appreciate it."