Brenda Singletary

Football player Brian Dawkins was born on October 13, 1973 in Jacksonville, Florida to Patricia Dawkins and Ralph Dawkins. After graduating from William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida, he attended Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, where he played on the football and basketball teams.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest safeties of all time, Dawkins was a three-year starter at Clemson University under head coaches Ken Hatfield and Tommy West, and finished his college career with 247 tackles and 11 interceptions. He was then selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2nd round of the 1996 NFL Draft as the 61st overall pick, where he played for 13 seasons under head coaches Ray Rhodes and Andy Reid, including in Super Bowl XXXIX, and was viewed as the leader of the Eagles' defense. Following his time with the Eagles, Dawkins signed with the Denver Broncos in 2009, where he played for three seasons under head coaches Josh McDaniels, Eric Studesville, and John Fox before retiring from the NFL. Dawkins finished his professional football career with 1,147 tackles, 26 sacks, 36 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, 37 interceptions, and 4 touchdowns.

In 2012, Dawkins was hired as an NFL studio analyst by ESPN, and from 2016 to 2018 he worked as the executive of football operations for player development for the Philadelphia Eagles under head coach Doug Pederson. The Eagles won Super Bowl LII under his watch.

Dawkins was named a member of the Pro Football Writers Association 1996 All-Rookie Team and to nine Pro Bowls and five All-Pro first-teams during his career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Clemson University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, and the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. The Philadelphia Eagles retired his number 20 in 2012.

Dawkins and his wife, Connie Kerrin, live in Denver, Colorado. They have four children, Brian Dawkins Jr., Brionni Dawkins, Chonni Dawkins, and Cionni Dawkins.

Brian Dawkins was interviewed by NFL Films on August 13, 2018 and August 22, 2018.