Brian Dawkins redefined the safety position with unmatched intensity
Philadelphia is a notoriously tough, obnoxious and controversial sports city; one where it takes a special kind of athlete to earn universal praise from fans — something that is extremely rare. Yet, ask any Philadelphia Eagles fan from damn near any generation who her or his favorite player ever is, and chances are you'll get the same two-word response over and over again: "Brian Dawkins."
This is no accident. For starters, Dawkins presided over the most successful decade in franchise history. From the time he was drafted out of Clemson in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft until his final season in Philadelphia in 2008, the Eagles won the NFC East five times, appeared in five NFC Championship Games and made it to the Super Bowl once with fellow 2018 inductee Terrell Owens in tow. He along with quarterback Donovan McNabb and coach Andy Reid were the headlining constants, yet unlike McNabb and Reid, Dawkins was the one who almost never drew fans' ire. It wasn't only because he was a hard hitter who made big plays — although that didn't hurt. It was also because Brian Dawkins was great in more ways than one.
Yes, he was, without a shadow of a doubt, an exceptional player, and it is thanks to Dawkins that safeties are no longer viewed simply as extra linebackers there to stuff the run and lay out vicious hits. He was a pioneer on the back line, a safety who could play the traditional role as well as anyone has ever played it, but also the type of athlete who could cover tight ends, running backs and even wide receivers — along with blitz from any and everywhere on the field. In defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's system, Dawkins became his coordinator's Swiss Army knife. The man dubbed Weapon X was just as likely to lead the team in tackles as he was to pace it in interceptions or forced fumbles.
In fact, Dawkins became the first player in NFL history to record at least 30 interceptions and 30 forced fumbles in a career, and he's the only player to reach those heights and have at least 20 sacks (26 overall). He also became the first player in NFL history to record a sack, interception, forced fumble and touchdown in the same game, reaching the end zone in style.
This was due in no small part to the way in which Johnson deployed Dawkins. While No. 20 was the one player every offense had to account for, it was a monumentally difficult task to do so. On one play he'd be lined up deep as the last line of defense, down in the box to stop the run on the next, lined up in the slot to cover the following series and coming off the edge to fly in and strip-sack the quarterback from the blind side later. It made Dawkins a playmaker like no other safety before him, paving the way for the likes of future contemporaries Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu to follow suit. Nowadays, safeties are expected to do it all, and that's thanks to Brian Dawkins.
This all led to nine Pro Bowl appearances, five All-Pro honors, a place on the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s and a spot on the Exclusive NFL Defensive Club for players with at least 35 interceptions and 20 sacks in their careers.
The stats and highlights tell the story of a great player, but his play isn't the only reason Dawkins will be enshrined among the game's greats. He was also one of the NFL's preeminent leaders, both in Philadelphia and late in his career in Denver. He was the voice in the Eagles' locker room; the man who fired up his teammates and set the tone. That didn't end when his play began to decline, evidenced by earning the Ed Block Courage Award in 2009 with the Broncos, his 14th season in the NFL.
Yes, he led with his play, but he perhaps led more with his trademark intensity. Off the field, you won't find a more mild-mannered human being, but on it, Dawkins was someone else entirely. He morphed from a kind man of faith to Weapon X, the feared hitter with the dark visor and maniacal aggression.
It was commonplace for his teammates to marvel at his craziness heading out of the tunnel and onto the field. He'd speak in tongues, talk to himself and come flying onto Lincoln Financial Field as if he were fired out of a cannon. Whether he crawled out on all fours or sprinted full speed before doing a dance, no player before or since has electrified the Philadelphia faithful more. He fired up the fans, fired up his teammates and made you feel that, win or lose, this was a man who was going to lay it all on the line on every play.
That's what he did for 16 remarkable NFL seasons. He was an intimidator, a mentor, a leader and a playmaker. He was the heart and soul of every team he played for and a man who did as much off the field as he accomplished on it. It's why he's beloved in Philadelphia, Denver and his native Florida, and it's why, nearly a decade after the last time he wore an Eagles uniform, Dawkins, the organization's all-time leader in games played, is still the player whose No. 20 jersey you'll see in the stands more than any other — even after the Eagles just won their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
On Saturday, he'll be immortalized among the game's greats, and while he may be overshadowed by the bigger names who will join him — Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and the absent (and aforementioned) Terrell Owens — he's every bit as deserving of his place among legends.
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