Latest news with #BrianDawkins
USA Today
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Brian Dawkins lends his Hall-of-Fame eyes to the analysis of an Eagles star defensive back
Weapon X is sold on Cooper DeJean. What else needs to be said now? Forgive the lack of knowledge for where this phrase originated, but its origin isn't as important as the phrase itself. 'One's opinion is only as valuable as a person's knowledge of a particular subject. Here's another way of stating the same thing. Who better to comment on the Philadelphia Eagles' brilliance than one of the best players to ever suit up in midnight or Kelly Green? The legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins certainly qualifies. He's on just about everyone's Eagles Mount Rushmore, and if he isn't on yours, you may want to rethink your evaluation strategy. Recently, he appeared as a guest on 94 WIP-FM during a live broadcast from training camp. He mentioned a rising star. Of course you're interested. Why on Earth wouldn't you be? Brian Dawkins joins the growing Cooper DeJean fan club Every time we think Cooper DeJean's star can't get any brighter, it does, so at this point, perhaps it's best to resign ourselves to theories about his brilliance and vast potential. His name recently earned a mention from one of the best DBs of his time, Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins. What else needs to be said? When Weapon X talks about great DB talent, you will hear no rebuttal from this direction. It's year two for DeJean. He is already a Super Bowl champion. He picked off Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 59. Then, he wore a suit to the ring ceremony commemorating the moment. His teammate, A.J. Brown, sees the All-Pro potential. He's one of the hosts of the Exciting Mics podcast. His flame is indeed burning brightly, and it appears it will burn for a while. His collegiate career ended with him being named a Unanimous All-American. His professional career began with his inclusion on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. What will he do for an encore after a great rookie season? Time will tell, but, like Dawkins, the expectation is that another great campaign is coming.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Legends Shine on ESPN's All-Quarter Century NFL Team
Eagles Legends Shine on ESPN's All-Quarter Century NFL Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. ESPN just dropped their All-Quarter Century NFL team, and Eagles fans have plenty to celebrate. Four Philadelphia legends made the cut for this elite 53-man roster spanning 2000–2024, proving once again that the Birds have consistently produced some of the league's most dominant players. Advertisement Jason Kelce was the obvious choice at center, and honestly, it wasn't even close. His six first-team All-Pro selections since 2000 are more than double what any other center achieved during that span. The man anchored the Super Bowl LII championship team and basically invented the tush push that every team now tries to copy. ESPN called picking him 'fairly straightforward,' which tells you everything about how dominant Kelce was at his position. His 193 career starts and that legendary Super Bowl speech cemented his place in Eagles lore forever. Lane Johnson earned his spot as one of the two right tackles selected, leading all players at his position with six Pro Bowl selections. The guy has been absolutely elite over the past few seasons — in 2023, he led all tackles in run block win rate while ranking ninth in pass blocking. Last season, he was fifth among tackles in both categories. Two Super Bowl wins and 158 career starts later, Johnson has proven he's one of the most reliable and dominant tackles of his generation. Brian Dawkins brought that signature Eagles intensity to the safety position, and his numbers are just ridiculous. During his time contributing to this 25-year span, Weapon X racked up 22.5 sacks, 29 forced fumbles and 25 interceptions. Among defensive backs since 2000, he's second in forced fumbles and third in sacks — numbers that show just how much chaos he created every Sunday. When Dawkins was patrolling the secondary from 2000–2008, the Eagles defense ranked third in the league in EPA allowed per dropback. The man was a game-changer in every sense of the word. Then there's Terrell Owens, whose brief but explosive Eagles tenure earned him recognition among the six wide receivers selected. T.O.'s overall numbers during the evaluation period are staggering: 12,627 receiving yards and 123 touchdowns across his career. He led the league in receiving touchdowns three times and had three second-place finishes in advanced metrics. But for Eagles fans, it's all about that Super Bowl XXXIX performance — 122 yards just seven weeks after breaking his leg. ESPN specifically mentioned that game when explaining why Owens made the team, noting he would 'play through any injury.' His 80.3 receiving yards per game ranks sixth among receivers with at least 50 games since 2000. Advertisement Another Eagles connection on the wide receiver list is Julio Jones, who had a brief stint in Philadelphia during the 2023 season. While his Eagles tenure was short and relatively quiet — coming at the tail end of his illustrious career — Jones absolutely deserved his spot on this All-Quarter Century team based on his dominant prime years. ESPN noted that when looking at the three best receiving seasons by yards, no receiver matched Jones' total of 5,141 yards — and he topped the list for five best seasons and seven best seasons too. Seeing these Eagles legends mentioned alongside Tom Brady, Aaron Donald and Ray Lewis validates what Eagles fans have always known in Philadelphia — this franchise knows how to develop elite talent. Related: Eagles Young Cornerback Remains Big Winner of Offseason Related: ESPN Links Eagles To Possible Signing of Asante Samuel Jr. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five Eagles Named To All-Quarter Century Team
Five Eagles Named To All-Quarter Century Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Since 2000, the Philadelphia Eagles have become one of the better rosters in the league. They have reached the Super Bowl four times, been to the conference championship game eight times, and won two titles. Advertisement Along the way, they have seen some of the league's biggest stars don the midnight green uniform. Five stars found their names on the Quarter Century Team made by ESPN Thursday afternoon. Right tackle Lane Johnson, center Jason Kelce, safety Brian Dawkins, and receivers Terrell Owens and Julio Jones were all named to the prestigious honor. Of the five names, Owens and Jones lasted less than two full seasons with the organization. Johnson, Kelce, and Dawkins are all-time fan favorites for the Eagles. Dawkins is a Hall-of-Fame safety and was a face of Philadelphia sports during the 2000s. His intensity brought a new flare to the organization. Kelce and Johnson, meanwhile, are two of the better offensive linemen in league history. Kelce was a former sixth-round steal out of Cincinnati. He became a starter right away and later an All-Pro. He's just the third member in Eagles history to be named an All-Pro six times. Advertisement As for Johnson, the former fourth overall pick has become one of the best right tackles in league history. His work as an athletic freak has allowed him to continue to be among the elite players in the game even into his 30s. All five Eagles have made their mark on NFL history. Although the majority of the players on the list are retired, making the All Quarter Century Team is a great honor. And it's another reminder of how good the Eagles have been recently. Related: ESPN Links Eagles To Possible Signing of Asante Samuel Jr. Related: Eagles Young Cornerback Remains Big Winner of Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Eagles star's recent release may signal that retirement is near
Former Eagles star's recent release may signal that retirement is near Former Eagles second-round pick Jordan Matthews could look to retire after getting released by the Panthers Depending on where they are from (Oakland, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas), there's an old saying you may have heard from fans of The Silver and Black. "Once a Raider, always a Raider". That's respectable. There's not really a Philadelphia Eagles parallel, but we've seen the same attitude by Birds fans for years. Brian Dawkins is a superhero. Jason Kelce won't ever have to buy a drink or meal in Philly unless he wants to pick up the tab. Even role players can attest to the love of football's most loyal fan base. How often have you watched a non-Eagles game because of a former player or an old coach? Jordan Matthews will never be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He won't be in the Eagles Hall of Fame either, but after three stints with this team (2014-16, 2018, 2019), he's earned his wings. That being said, he earns a tip of the cap after being part of a recent update. Jordan Matthews's recent release may have hinted that retirement is nearing. Philadelphia selected Jordan Matthews with the 42nd selection during Round 2 of the 2014 NFL Draft. He's since hauled in 249 receptions in an Eagles jersey and 274 catches overall. None were more exciting than a sudden-death overtime winner vs. the hated Dallas Cowboys in 2015. He's spent the past two seasons in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers, but the announcement no NFL star wants to hear has come. They have released him as part of a wave of veteran cuts, including Jadeveon Clowney's release. Might this signal the end? It would seem that way. He's 32 years old, and after only appearing in five games over the past two seasons, he hasn't played a full NFL season since 2015. Though he has had a nice run, we fear retirement may be nearing. If this is the end, he leaves the game having racked up 3,288 yards in 81 career regular-season games with 47 starts. He has 22 regular-season TDs on his resume. He also notched one postseason reception for 37 yards and another trip to the end zone.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Brian Dawkins reflects on the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX defensive performance vs. the Chiefs
Brian Dawkins reflects on the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX defensive performance vs. the Chiefs This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Eagles legend Brian Dawkins. In his interview with Easton Jr., Dawkins discussed representing Boehringer & Lilly's It Takes 2 health initiative, spreading awareness about getting tested for kidney disease, and reflecting on the Eagles' defense's performance in Super Bowl LIX, which forced Kansas City into numerous turnovers and pressured Patrick Mahomes. The "It's In Your Hands: It Takes 2" CORE Kidney float debuted with Dawkins aboard at the 2025 Rose Parade. The collaboration reflected a shared commitment to kidney health and the importance of teamwork in understanding kidney disease comprehensively. The Eagles' defense collected six sacks and two interceptions on three-time Super Bowl MVP Mahomes en route to a 40-22 victory. Dawkins reflected on the game, sharing his opinion on Philadelphia's shocking dominance over the Chiefs' experienced offensive stars. "I was surprised that it happened the way that it happened. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that's not something I thought would happen. I thought it was going to be a reverse of fortune that the Eagles would make that last drive to win the game this time around; I thought it would be that type of a close game." said Dawkins, "But it was not from the jump that the defense stepped up and played the best game, probably that you would see that I can remember." Dawkins spent thirteen of his sixteen NFL seasons in Philadelphia, achieving tremendous success with NFC Championship appearances under then-head coach Andy Reid. The defense was prominent on those teams that fell short of a Super Bowl title in 2004. "Sometimes we have done some things with Jim Johnson, Reggie White, and the crew. They did some things back in the day. But I'm just telling you, on that stage, though, to be able to perform to the level in the Super Bowl the way that they did, unbelievable." said Dawkins, "I was so excited to see them doing it that way, winning the game because it's the Super Bowl. I'm a defensive guy, so to see them dominate the way that they did, I loved it."
