35 Facts About Phil Dawson

Philip Drury Dawson was born on January 23,1975 and is a former American football placekicker.

Phil Dawson played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2012 and holds their franchise record for most field goals made, passing Hall of Famer Lou Groza in 2010.

Phil Dawson signed a contract in 2019 to retire as a member of the team that he started with, the Cleveland Browns.

Phil Dawson graduated in the class of 1993; the Baltimore Ravens placekicker Matt Stover attended the same high school, graduating in 1986.

Phil Dawson thought he might have to have season-ending surgery, but he gutted it out, stuck to kicking, and was named as an All-American and the Southwest Region Offensive Player of the Year by SuperPrep.

Phil Dawson attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a four-year letterman in football.

Phil Dawson tied a school record with 54 consecutive extra points.

Phil Dawson made first-team All-America his junior and senior years, while simultaneously making All-Big 12.

Phil Dawson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders, who then waived him.

Phil Dawson was picked up by the New England Patriots and assigned to the practice squad, but never appeared in a game for them.

Phil Dawson holds the Browns record for most consecutive field goals made and most field goals in a game.

Phil Dawson is currently the 7th most accurate kicker in the NFL.

On October 10,2010, Phil Dawson tied Lou Groza for the Browns' career field-goal record with 234.

Phil Dawson scored the first points in the history of the "new" Cleveland Browns in 1999.

On November 17,2008, Phil Dawson hit a 56-yard field game-winning field goal against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

Phil Dawson would have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2010 season, but he was given the franchise tag on February 22, keeping him for the 2011 season.

Phil Dawson signed with the San Francisco 49ers on March 19,2013.

Phil Dawson made 27 consecutive field goals during the 2013 season, until the streak was snapped by a 24-yard field goal miss against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.

Phil Dawson finished his first year in San Francisco with the second-most points and field goals in the team's history.

On September 26,2013, Phil Dawson attempted and missed a 71-yard fair catch kick in the last seconds of the second quarter of a game against the St Louis Rams.

On March 11,2014, Phil Dawson signed a new two-year contract to remain with the 49ers.

Phil Dawson re-signed with the 49ers on a one-year contract on March 12,2016.

Phil Dawson made his 400th career field goal on November 20,2016 against the Patriots.

On March 10,2017, Phil Dawson signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Phil Dawson converted two extra points and a field goal in the loss.

On November 26,2017, Phil Dawson hit a 57-yard field goal with one second left to beat the favored Jacksonville Jaguars.

Phil Dawson converted four field goals in the game, including the 57-yard game-winner, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Phil Dawson became the 11th player in NFL history to appear in 300 career games.

On November 26,2018, Phil Dawson was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury.

Phil Dawson announced his retirement after 21 seasons on August 1,2019, after signing a one-day ceremonial contract with the Browns to retire as a member of the team.

Phil Dawson had a rule named after him after a missed call by referees.

On November 18,2007, Phil Dawson attempted a 51-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter to tie the game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Phil Dawson finished 4 for 5 in FGs, whereas fellow Lake Highlands High School alumnus Matt Stover finished 3 for 3 in FGs for the Ravens.

Phil Dawson's wife Shannon is a singer-songwriter and produced her first album "Redemption" in 2013.

On March 6,2020, Phil Dawson was named special teams coordinator at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville.