Brian Dawkins life and biography

• Brian Dawkins, a 15th-year player who is one of the most accomplished safeties in NFL history, earning a spot on the NFL All-Decade Team (2000s) and tying for the thirdmost Pro Bowl selections (8) at the safety position in league annals.
• Named a Pro Bowl starter in his first year with the Broncos in 2009 after joining the club as an unrestricted free agent following 13 years with the Eagles.
• Received Pro Bowl honors during five of the last six seasons, including the 2008 campaign when he was a 16-game starter and helped the Eagles advance to the NFC Championship Game for the fifth time in his career.
• Honored as a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press four times for his career, receiving that accolade from 2001-02 as well as in ‘04 and ‘06.
• Finished his Eagles career as the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season games played (183), postseason starts (18) and overall wins (109) while tying for the club lead in interceptions (34).
• Owns 36 career interceptions and 21 sacks as one of only three players in NFL history with at least 35 interceptions and 20 sacks for his career.
• Ranks fourth in league annals in career sacks (21) by a defensive back.
• Averaged more than 100 tackles (100.7) a year for his career and owns seven 100-tackle seasons, including a personal-best 155 tackles for the Eagles in 2006 and 116 stops with the Broncos in 2009.
• Started every game he has played since Week 2 of his rookie season in 1996 and has started all 16 games during four of the last five years as well as six times for his career.
• Named his conference’s Defensive Player of the Month twice (December 2006 and ‘08) and owns three conference Defensive Player of the Week accolades for his career.
• Earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors three times at Clemson University, where he was a three-year starter for the Tigers who was elected to the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
• Joined the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 28, 2009.
• Selected by Philadelphia in the second round (61st overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
Signed by Philadelphia as a a draft choice 7/18/96; Signed by Denver as an unrestricted free agent Denver 2/28/09.

QUICKLY:
Dawkins, who signed with the Broncos on Feb. 28, 2009 after playing his first 13 NFL seasons with Philadelphia, has tied for the third-most Pro Bowl selections (8) by a safety in league annals… Was named to the NFL’s all decade team and has been named First-Team All-Pro four times and Second-Team All-Pro once… The 15th year pro serves as a team captain in 2010.

2010: Dawkins played in his 200th career game in the season opener at Jacksonville (9/12). He finished with three solo tackles one pass breakup when he leapt into the air and deflected a David Garrard pass intended for WR Mike Thomas. Dawkins intercepted a pass from Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck that was intended for TE John Carlson at the Denver 9-yard line to thwart Seattle's scoring threat in the team's home opener versus Seattle(9/19). He registered his seventh career game with at least one tackle for a loss (excluding sacks) and at least one interception and combined with LB Mario Haggan to tackle Seahawks RB Justin Forsett for a 1-yard loss in the second quarter... Brought down QB Vince Young for a five-yard loss on third down in the third quarter at Tennessee (10/3) for his 22nd career sack that ranks fourth in NFL history among defensive backs.

2009: Dawkins, in his first year with the Broncos, was voted a team captain and was selected to his eighth Pro Bowl (starter) to tie for third-highest such total at the safety position in NFL history... Started all 16 games and finished second on the club with 116 tackles (95 solo) while adding two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble... Named the Broncos’ recipient of their Ed Block Courage Award... Was one of three safeties in the AFC (Baltimore’s Ed Reed and Houston’s Bernard Pollard) with multiple interceptions and multiple fumble recoveries... Tied for second in Broncos history in fumble recoveries by a safety for a season... Started all 16 games for the sixth time in his career and registered his seventh-career 100-tackle effort... Helped Denver rank third in the league in passing yards per game allowed (186.3)... Intercepted Peyton Manning twice at Ind. (12/13)... Led the Broncos with eight tackles at Phi. (12/27) in his first game against the Eagles.

2008: Dawkins earned his seventh career trip to the Pro Bowl, starting all 16 games for the fifth time in his career and ranking third on the Eagles with 142 tackles (96 solo)... Added three sacks (22 yds.), one interception (25 yds.), 14 pass breakups, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery... Had 27 tackles (20 solo), one sack (11 yds.), three pass breakups and one forced fumble in three playoff starts, helping the Eagles advance to the NFC Championship Game for the fifth time in his career... Named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December after posting 36 tackles, two forced fumbles and one sack to help lead the Eagles to a 3-1 record while limiting opponents to 40 points for the month... Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week vs. Pit. (9/21) after posting 10 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery... Tied Eric Allen and Bill Bradley for the Eagles’ all-time record in interceptions with his 34th career interception off a Kurt Warner pass vs. Ari. (11/27)... Became the Eagles’ all-time leader in games played when he overtook wide receiver Harold Carmichael (181) vs. Cle. (12/15).

2007: Dawkins started all 10 games played for Philadelphia, compiling 51 tackles (29 solo), one interception (1 yd.) and eight pass breakups... Named the starting free safety on the Eagles’ 75th Anniversary team as voted on by fans... Missed Games 3-7 with a neck injury... Intercepted a pass at Dal. (12/16).

2006: Dawkins started all 16 games for the Eagles for the second year in a row, totaling a career-high 155 tackles (111 solo) while matching his career high with four interceptions (38 yds.) to earn his sixth trip to the Pro Bowl... Led the club with 14 pass breakups and five forced fumbles while adding one sack (9 yds.)... Made 13 tackles (10 solo) and broke up one pass in two postseason starts... Earned first-team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press and USA Today Weekly while collecting All-NFC accolades from Pro Football Weekly... Named to Vic Carucci’s All-Interview team for NFL.com... Selected as NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December after posting 48 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, six pass breakups and one sack to help the Eagles go 5-0 and clinch the NFC East that month... Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after posting 16 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles at NYG (12/17).

2005: Dawkins earned his fifth career trip to the Pro Bowl for Philadelphia, totaling 125 tackles (75 solo), three interceptions (24 yds.), 3.5 sacks (26 yds.), 15 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery... Was one of five players in the NFL with at least three sacks and three interceptions... His 15 pass breakups marked his second-best season total... Notched his third career 16-start campaign.

2004: Dawkins started all 15 games played for Philadelphia, earning his fourth career Pro Bowl selection after totaling 95 tackles (60 solo) and three sacks (15 yds.) while tying his personal best with four interceptions (40 yds.)... Added nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery... Started all three playoff games, including Super Bowl XXXIX vs. N.E. (2/6), and had 12 tackles (11 solo), one interception (19 yds.), one sack (12 yds.), two pass breakups and two forced fumbles... Chosen by his teammates as the team’s defensive MVP while earning first-team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press, College and Pro Football Newsweekly, The Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly and Football Digest in addition to collecting All-NFL and All-NFC honors from Pro Football Weekly... Was one of only four players in the NFL to record at least three sacks and three interceptions during the season.

2003: Dawkins was limited to seven games (all starts) for the Eagles due to a Lis Franc sprain... Contributed 51 tackles (32 solo), one interception (0 yds.), 0.5 sacks (5.5 yds.), five pass breakups and two forced fumbles... Inactive for Games 2-9 due to his Lis Franc sprain... Started both postseason games, totaling eight tackles (all solo) and one interception (35 yds.).

2002: Selected to his third career Pro Bowl, Dawkins started all 16 games for Philadelphia, totaling 131 tackles (78 solo), two interceptions (27 yds.) and three sacks (27 yds.)... Added 10 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries... Earned first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, Football Digest, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, College and Pro Football Newsweekly and USA Today Sports Weekly... Selected by his teammates as the Eagles’ defensive MVP... Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after becoming the first player in NFL history to record a sack, interception, fumble recovery and touchdown reception in a single game vs. Hou. (9/29).

2001: Dawkins earned his second career Pro Bowl selection after registering his second 100-tackle season with 106 stops (55 solo), two interceptions (15 yds.) and 1.5 sacks (11 yds.) in 15 starts for Philadelphia... Named a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press... Added 13 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles... Started all three playoff games, totaling 13 tackles (12 solo), one interception (0 yds.) and three pass breakups... Scored on a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown vs. S.D. (12/9).

2000: Named a Pro Bowl alternate, Dawkins started all 13 games played for Philadelphia and had 94 tackles (54 solo), four interceptions (62 yds.) and two sacks (18 yds.)... Added 10 pass breakups and one fumble recovery... Had five tackles (3 solo) in a pair of postseason starts... Missed Games 4-6 while recovering from appendectomy surgery.

1999: Dawkins earned his first career Pro Bowl selection, starting all 16 games for the Eagles and totaling 103 tackles (77 solo), four interceptions (127 yds.) and a career-best 22 pass breakups... Also had 1.5 sacks (23.5 yds.), six forced fumbles (team high) and two fumble recoveries... Received second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press... Tied a Pro Bowl record with two interceptions in the NFL’s annual all-star game... Scored on a 67-yard interception return at Mia. (10/24).

1998: Dawkins started all 14 games played for the Eagles, ranking second among the team’s defensive backs with 92 tackles (66 solo)... Had two interceptions (39 yds.), one sack (10 yds.), eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery... Missed Games 7-8 with an ankle injury.

1997: Dawkins started all 15 games played for the Eagles, registering 75 tackles (62 solo) while tying for the team lead with three interceptions (76 yds.) among 11 pass breakups... Scored his first career touchdown on a 64-yard interception return vs. NYG (12/7).

1996: Selected by Philadelphia in the second round (61st overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft, Dawkins totaled 74 tackles (53 solo), three interceptions (41 yds.), one sack (10 yds.), nine pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 14 games (13 starts) as a rookie... Intercepted his first career pass (Bobby Hebert) at Atl. (9/22).

COLLEGE: Dawkins was a three-year starter at Clemson University, where he totaled 234 career tackles and 11 interceptions... Earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors three times for the Tigers... Named a second-team All-American as a senior after tying for the conference lead with six interceptions.

PERSONAL:
Dawkins earned all-state recognition at Raines County High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he led his team to 30 consecutive wins... Inducted into the Raines High School Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Clemson University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009... Named South Carolina Professional Athlete of the Year for 2008... Won the Byron “Whizzer” White Award in 2009 that is presented annually to the NFL player who serves his team, community and country in the spirit of Byron “Whizzer” White... One of three finalists for the 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award… Named the Broncos’ Ed Block Courage Award recipient in 2009... Selected by United Way as a spokesman for its Live United campaign in 2009... Recognized as the “2008 Father of the Year” by the American Diabetes Association for his dedication to his family and his community work... Serves as a spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation... Works closely with the Burn Prevention Foundation, hosting an annual golf tournament to raise awareness and funds for its programs... Teamed up with the Philadelphia Daily News to create an award given each week during the season to a local high school football player who best exemplified academics, character and sportsmanship with the winner receiving tickets to an Eagles game... Selected by his teammates as the 2005 Eagles Man of the Year for his charitable work and was honored by the NFLPA with the Fans' Choice Award... Accompanied NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to Germany for World Bowl 14 in 2006 and visited troops stationed there during his visit... Has collected over 200 X-Men comic books and owns more than 20 Wolverine figures... Received a bachelor's degree in education at Clemson... Married to his high school sweetheart, Connie, and the couple has four children: Brian Jr., Brionni and twin daughters Chonni and Cionni... Brian Dawkins was born Oct. 13, 1973, in Jacksonville, Fla.

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