The question was one that he frequently fields, but Brian Dawkins still paused and collected his thoughts before answering. He knows he’ll be remembered as a fan favorite, especially for his years in Philadelphia.
The subject: his legacy. He wants to be known for more than his great accomplishments between the lines.
“I’ve had long conversations with myself about this topic,” Dawkins said Monday. “Knowing all the battles and what we went through in Philadelphia—all the great times, the bad times and all the fun we had—I want people to say, ‘He gave everything he had until the last drop. Whether on game day, in preparation, with the media, off the field—he was there for you.’”
Dawkins, who retired from the NFL on Monday, has countless memories to cherish when the time comes to reflect on his 16-year career. Still, one stands out above all the rest: In 2004, when the Eagles, after long last, broke through by winning the NFC and advancing to the Super Bowl. They had played in four consecutive conference championship games between 2001 and 2004.
But it wasn’t a sense of personal accomplishment that Dawkins fondly recalls; it was more about that triumph’s meaning for his mentor and friend, the late defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.
“When we finally won the NFC Championship Game after losing that many times in a row, I’ll always remember the exuberance, the joy, the feeling of a burden lifted off your back,” he told Pro Player Insiders. “To see the celebration and tears on the late, great Jim Johnson’s face, I’ll never forget that. Out of so many great moments that I had in Philadelphia, that will be the one that stands out the most.”
During his celebrated tenure as the anchor of the Eagles defense, as well as over the past three seasons as a leader on the Denver Broncos, Dawkins always gave maximum effort. He stayed true to himself, played within the team structure and set the example for others to follow.
“I play with my emotions on my sleeve, and you can read me pretty easily,” he said. “I try my best not to disappoint people. I do my best to make sure that my coaches, teammates and the fans were pleased that I gave everything I had on the football field.”
After the Eagles lost to New England in the Super Bowl, Dawkins thought his team would return to the big game within the next few years. It never happened, but he’s still holding his head high during his newfound retirement.
“It hurt,” he said of the Super Bowl loss. “It hurt really bad. But you’re optimistic.”
By Khalil Garriott
