Latest news with #It'sInYourHands:ItTakes2
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."
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Eagles legend Brian Dawkins reflects on the Rose Parade, Brandon Graham's career
Eagles legend Brian Dawkins reflects on the Rose Parade, Brandon Graham's career This week, Touchdown 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 recapped his representation of Boehringer & Lilly's "It Takes 2" health initiative at the Rose Parade earlier this year, spreading awareness about the importance of getting tested for kidney disease, and shared his thoughts on the retirement announcement of long-time Eagles standout Brandon Graham. "It's tremendous. It was a lot bigger than I thought, like, you think it's one way because you see it on TV. Still, you're a part of it, and to be on one of the floats, and so that part of it was much more expansive than I thought." said Dawkins. "I had an image of what I thought it would be, but when I saw it, I was like, you guys gotta be kidding me, like, there are the people they drive down, travel down, just for this experience. Get up early in the morning to come out and watch these floats go by. It's not something that I ever thought I would be a part of. I thought it was something I would always watch from a distance, but to be a part of it was such a blessing. So it's great. I thank Boehringer & Lilly for letting me be a part of it." Dawkins, whose parents have conditions that put them at greater risk, rode the "It's In Your Hands: It Takes 2" CORE Kidney float alongside Thelma, a patient advocate living with kidney disease, and Dr. Anjay Rastogi, M.D., PhD, Director of the CORE Kidney Program and Professor and Clinical Chief of Nephrology at the UCLA Health's David Geffen School of Medicine. Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham announced his retirement after 15 seasons with the franchise, including two Super Bowl victories. Dawkins opened up about his career and legacy in Philadelphia, including his famous strip-sack of Tom Brady to win Super Bowl LII. "I'm excited for him. The way his career started, coming out of Michigan, he was considered a bust by many individuals at the time. If you look at where he was in the first two years, you could see why they would say that," said Dawkins. "But here's the thing, he changed his mindset. He changed how he looked at life, approached the game of football, and changed into a completely different person, and so that's the Brandon Graham that we see now." "The smiling assassin is what I call him. He is always chirping and smiling. But he would handle his business if you got too close to him. It will forever be in the lore of Philadelphia that he will be forever known for the sack because that was it," said Dawkins, "That was the sack in the Super Bowl to win it all and strip Tom Brady. He will be forever known for that, and so there are growing young people who'll grow up wanting to have that type of career, to win two Super Bowls and then win one out the door, like, that's how we all would have loved to have done it, and he did it."
