78 Facts About Brian Dawkins

Brian Dawkins played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft.

Brian Dawkins was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

Brian Dawkins played both football and basketball in high school, and helped lead the basketball team to a Class 3A championship.

Brian Dawkins was not highly recruited out of high school, but received a scholarship offer from Clemson University at the request of his high school teammate, Patrick Sapp.

Brian Dawkins was a three-year starter at free safety for the Clemson Tigers football team, finishing his career with 247 tackles and 11 interceptions.

Brian Dawkins received first-team All-ACC Honors in 1995 and was selected by the Associated Press and Sporting News as a second-team All-American as a senior when his team-high six interceptions tied him for the conference lead.

Brian Dawkins was named the first-team strong safety on Clemson's all-centennial team in 1996 and was selected to their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Brian Dawkins using a compensatory pick they received from the departure of Seth Joyner in free agency in 1994.

Brian Dawkins entered training camp slated as the backup free safety behind Eric Zomalt who earned the starting role after Greg Jackson departed in free agency.

On September 18,1996, head coach Ray Rhodes officially named Brian Dawkins the starting free safety, alongside strong safety Mike Zordich, after he surpassed Eric Zomalt on the depth chart.

Brian Dawkins made his first career interception off a pass by Falcons' backup quarterback Bobby Hebert, that was originally intended for wide receiver Bert Emanuel, and returned it for a 30-yard gain to seal the Eagles' victory in the fourth quarter.

Brian Dawkins made his first career sack on Cowboys' quarterback Troy Aikman during the third quarter and stripped the ball during the play.

Brian Dawkins finished his rookie season in 1996 with 75 combined tackles, three interceptions, a sack, and a forced fumble in 14 games and 13 starts.

Brian Dawkins was inactive for a Week 8 victory against the Arizona Cardinals due to an injury.

Brian Dawkins intercepted a pass by quarterback Danny Kanell, that was initially thrown to wide receiver Chris Calloway, and returned it for a 64-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Brian Dawkins finished the 1997 season with 75 combined tackles, three interceptions, and a touchdown in 15 games and 15 starts.

Brian Dawkins was sidelined for two games due to an injury.

Brian Dawkins finished the 1998 season with 55 combined tackles, two interceptions, a sack, and a forced fumble in 14 games and 14 starts.

Head coach Andy Reid named Brian Dawkins the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety Tim Hauck.

Brian Dawkins intercepted a pass by quarterback Doug Flutie, that was originally intended for wide receiver Peerless Price, in the second quarter.

Brian Dawkins's performance was his third consecutive game with an interception.

Brian Dawkins finished the 1999 season with 73 combined tackles, six forced fumbles, four interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and a touchdown in 14 games and 14 starts.

Brian Dawkins flourished in his first season under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and was named to the 2000 Pro Bowl, marking the first Pro Bowl selection of his career.

Brian Dawkins finished the 2000 season with a total of 75 combined tackles, four interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble in 13 games and 13 starts.

Brian Dawkins was paired with starting strong safety Damon Moore in 2001.

Brian Dawkins forced a fumble by Chargers' running back LaDainian Tomlinson in the first quarter and recovered the ball before returning it for a 49-yard touchdown.

Brian Dawkins finished the season with 68 combined tackles, 14 passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and a touchdown in 15 games and 15 starts.

On January 3,2002, Brian Dawkins was one of five Philadelphia Eagles' players named to the 2002 Pro Bowl.

Head coach Andy Reid named Brian Dawkins the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety Blaine Bishop.

Brian Dawkins became the first player in NFL history to make a sack, an interception, recover a fumble, and have a touchdown reception in a single game.

Brian Dawkins started all 16 games in 2002 and recorded 91 combined tackles, nine passes defensed, five forced fumbles, three sacks, two interceptions, and one touchdown reception.

On January 14,2003, it was announced that Brian Dawkins was selected to play in the 2003 Pro Bowl.

The contract extension was added to the one year Brian Dawkins had remaining on his pre-existing contract.

Brian Dawkins has the toughness to play strong and the cover ability as far as playing cornerback.

Brian Dawkins remained the starting free safety in 2003 and was coached by defensive backs coach Steve Spagnuolo and assistant defensive backs coach Sean McDermott.

Brian Dawkins's injury sidelined him for the next eight games.

Brian Dawkins was inactive for the Eagles' Week 12 win against the New Orleans Saints due to a foot injury.

Brian Dawkins finished the 2003 season with 35 combined tackles, five pass deflections, an interception, and was credited with half a sack in seven games and seven starts.

Brian Dawkins's interception continued his streak of three consecutive games with an interception.

On December 23,2004, it was announced that Brian Dawkins was selected to play in the 2005 Pro Bowl, along with Michael Lewis and Lito Sheppard.

Brian Dawkins finished the 2004 season with 69 combined tackles, eight passes defensed, four interceptions, three sacks, and two forced fumbles in 15 games and 15 starts.

Brian Dawkins played a key role and delivered a devastating hit on Falcons' tight end Alge Crumpler during the game.

Brian Dawkins started in all 16 games in 2005 and recorded 77 combined tackles, a career-high 19 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, and three interceptions.

On January 26,2006, it was announced that Brian Dawkins was named to the 2006 Pro Bowl as a late-replacement for Chicago Bears' safety Mike Brown who was inactive due to an injury.

In Week 6, Brian Dawkins began playing alongside Sean Considine after he surpassed Michael Lewis on the depth chart and remained the starter for the rest of the season.

On December 20,2006, Brian Dawkins was named to the 2007 Pro Bowl.

Brian Dawkins started in all 16 games in 2006 and recorded 93 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, five forced fumbles, four pass interceptions, and a sack.

Brian Dawkins returned as the starting free safety in 2007, alongside strong safety Sean Considine.

Brian Dawkins was sidelined for the next five games due to a neck injury he sustained against the Redskins.

Brian Dawkins was inactive for the Eagles' Week 17 win against the Buffalo Bills.

Brian Dawkins finished the season with 37 combined tackles, six pass deflections, and an interception in ten games and ten starts.

Head coach Andy Reid named Brian Dawkins the starting free safety, alongside strong safety Quintin Mikell and cornerbacks Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel.

Brian Dawkins broke fellow Jacksonville native and former Eagles' wide receiver Harold Carmichael's franchise record of 180 career games.

Brian Dawkins started in all 16 games in 2008 and recorded 75 combined tackles, six pass deflections, three sacks, and an interception.

Brian Dawkins joined another teammate, Correll Buckhalter, who signed with the Broncos.

The contract included a termination clause that permitted Brian Dawkins to opt out of the contract after two years and receives an extra $1.8 million, virtually making the contract for two years and $9 million.

Brian Dawkins could have earned an additional $10 million in performance incentives.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Brian Dawkins were discussing a possible two-year contract before Brian Dawkins received interest from the Denver Broncos.

Head coach Josh McDaniels named Brian Dawkins the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety Renaldo Hill and cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman.

On December 29,2009, it was announced that Brian Dawkins was selected to the 2008 Pro Bowl.

Brian Dawkins started all 16 games in 2009 and recorded 116 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Brian Dawkins was sidelined for two games due to a knee injury.

Brian Dawkins further aggravated his knee injury and was inactive for another three games.

Brian Dawkins finished the season with 66 combined tackles, five pass deflections, two sacks, and an interception in 11 games and 11 starts.

Head coach John Fox named Brian Dawkins the starting strong safety to begin the regular season, alongside free safety Rahim Moore.

Brian Dawkins was sidelined for a game in Week 15 and Week 17 due to a reoccurring neck injury.

Brian Dawkins finished the season with 51 combined tackles, six pass deflections, three sacks, and a forced fumble in 14 games and 12 starts.

Brian Dawkins's reasoning was he wanted to retire while he was still healthy.

Brian Dawkins planned to stay in Colorado, and wanted to begin coaching high school football that fall.

On February 4,2018, it was announced that Brian Dawkins was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was one of five players selected.

Brian Dawkins was the first former Clemson player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Brian Dawkins earned the nickname "Weapon X," a codename of Marvel character Wolverine, the comic book superhero known for relentless aggression.

Brian Dawkins emerged as one of the top safeties in the league and was a defensive captain for the majority of his stints with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.

Brian Dawkins is considered to be one of the top safeties in NFL history and was ranked as the fifth best safety in NFL history by NFL analyst Gil Brandt.

On September 5,2012, it was announced that Brian Dawkins was hired as an NFL studio analyst by ESPN.

On July 30,2016, Brian Dawkins returned to the Eagles to take a role on the team's scouting staff.

On May 22,2018, Brian Dawkins resigned as Football Operations Executive to seek other opportunities.

Brian Dawkins has said that his Christian faith has helped against depression and suicidal thoughts.