Former Eagles and Broncos safety Brian Dawkins had plenty of big moments during his playing career. This weekend has to be even bigger. Voters selected Dawkins as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018, the Hall of Fame announced Saturday.
Why Brian Dawkins earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
When you look at his impact on the game, it’s clear.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
The Eagles drafted Dawkins out of Clemson in the second round of the 1996 draft. He spent 13 seasons setting the tone for Philly’s defense. He finished his career with the Broncos.
After he retired from the NFL, the Eagles brought Dawkins on as an executive, so this weekend could get even better if they pull off the upset win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
Dawkins was named to the Pro Bowl nine times over his 16-year career and was a four-time first-team All-Pro. He’s one of the best safeties the league has seen, and that’s thanks to Dawkins’ well-rounded skill set.
Dawkins excelled in every facet of the game
Dawkins racked up 37 career picks, 28 forced fumbles, and 26 sacks. Guess how many players have managed to do that?
Dawkins wasn’t a lock for the Hall despite those gaudy numbers. But the stats speak for themselves. Not only is he one of the best to ever play the position, but he also was statistically stronger in terms of impact plays than any other safety in league history.
Ronnie Lott is the best comparison. Lott was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. He has more picks than Dawkins with 63. But he forced just 16 fumbles with 8 1⁄2 sacks. Dawkins eclipses the best safety to ever take the field in the NFL in those categories.
Dawkins can pump anybody up
If there were a Hall of Fame for fiery hype speeches, Dawkins — also known by his nickname, Weapon X — would already be in it. That was his M.O. during his time on the field. That hasn’t changed. He even got Eagles fans going during the 2017 NFL draft by talking a little trash about their bitter rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.
Just this week, Dawkins’ words inspired Eagles players and fans a alike as the team prepared to face the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
He’s still an inspiration to current Eagles players, like safety Malcolm Jenkins.
“The biggest thing I’ve been able to take from B Dawk, especially this year, is how every play is an opportunity to impact the game, whether it’s to punish the guy with the ball or take the ball away or a bunch of ways that I hadn’t really thought about,” Jenkins said, via Penn Live’s Aaron Kasinitz. “So it’s just that awareness on every single play of how you can impact the game.”
The Hall hasn’t been welcoming to safeties. But the voters did the right thing by giving Dawkins a bust in Canton.
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