Latest news with #ItTakes2
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Brian Dawkins comments on Travis Hunter's desire to be a full-time two-way NFL player
Brian Dawkins comments on Travis Hunter's desire to be a full-time two-way NFL player 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 discussed representing Boehringer & Lilly's "It Takes 2" health initiative, spreading awareness about the importance of getting tested for kidney disease, and sharing his thoughts on Travis Hunter's desire to be a full-time two-way player. "It's 35 million individuals in the US who have kidney disease. However, the problem is that many people are unaware of this, which is a significant issue. To learn more about the program, visit Information is essential for those individuals who have the conditions of high blood pressure and type two diabetes," said Dawkins, "The reason why I decided to explore more is because once I heard those two conditions, what popped into my head was my parents. I knew that they needed to get this test. It's the same for me, but when I say this, if someone comes to mind who has those conditions, they need this information. They need to be in the know about these tests that need to be done because it could potentially help recognize if I'm going down the path of having kidney disease or even cardiovascular risks at the same time." Dawkins, who was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, shared his take on the recent Heidman Trophy winner, who hopes to become a full-time two-way player in the NFL. "I mean, he (Travis Hunter) will play both ways, just not always. He'll play both ways. And he won't be the first to have done it, though; now, he may play more snaps on offense than others who've done it in the past, but we've had these things before. We've had players who have played receiver, running back, and defensive back (examples include Deion Sanders and Champ Bailey). There are, in fact, individuals who have done it. I don't see that element of him playing both ways the whole game. That's not the case; it's a different league. It's different physicality." Hunter was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday. During his last season at Colorado, he finished the regular season playing nearly 1,400 scrimmage snaps on offense and defense, more than any other player in college football. "There are different temperaments for the defensive coordinators and players about someone trying to do something like that. I'm telling you, it's just different," said Dawkins, "I want him to be successful, but I believe it will be more of the cornerback position, and then he'll spell in at receiver and probably succeed as a receiver. I think, in his mind, he wants to stay on the field and play. Those days are behind you, and you can now make it something you would love to do. It's too many snaps. It's too much, too much pound on the body. These are grown men like you, and you'll have to deal with them."
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
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Hall of Fame DB Brian Dawkins expected to be selected by the Chiefs in the 1996 NFL Draft
Hall of Fame DB Brian Dawkins expected to be selected by the Chiefs in the 1996 NFL Draft 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 Boehringer & Lilly's "It Takes 2" health initiative, which aims to spread awareness about getting tested for kidney disease, and reflected on the 1996 NFL Draft, when he believed he was going to be selected in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs. Kidney disease is a progressive and potentially life-threatening condition that impacts more than 35 million adults in the U.S. Dawkins' parents have a history of both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which makes it critical for both to focus on their kidney health, and is why he joined the cause. Dawkins spent thirteen of his sixteen NFL seasons in Philadelphia, but, according to his 1996 draft experience, he could have been drafted by Kansas City. "Well, hearing my name called was nerve-racking and frustrating, to be honest with you; I was excited at the end, but it was nerve-racking. It was frustrating. Then, I thought I would go in the first round. I thought Kansas City was going to draft me," said Dawkins. They're the only team that came out to take me to dinner, so I thought they would draft me. They didn't draft me, and then I went all the way to the end of the second round. In my mind, the way that I always used it for motivation is that I considered myself to be a third-round pick. I was the last pick in the second round. I considered myself a third-round pick and used that for motivation for basically all of my career." The Chiefs would go on to select defensive backs Jerome Woods (First Round, 28th overall) and Reggie Tongue (Second Round, 58th overall). Philadelphia took Dawkins in the second round, 61st overall. "It was a nerve-racking day for me, but once I finally got the call from the Eagles, I talked to many different individuals. Still, I was excited about this new direction for me to be able to go into and plan for the Philadelphia Eagles," said Dawkins. "I was extremely excited to play, even though I knew I was going to have to wear that green that I was not a fan of at the time; it wasn't the green, it was the socks I wasn't a fan of, but it was such a blessing to have that opportunity to go play in the National Football League."
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Hall of Fame DB Brian Dawkins offers advice to 2025 NFL Draft safety prospects
Hall of Fame DB Brian Dawkins offers advice to 2025 NFL Draft safety prospects 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 discussed representing Boehringer & Lilly's "It Takes 2" health initiative, spreading awareness about getting tested for kidney disease, and offering advice for this year's draft prospects. Kidney disease is a progressive and potentially life-threatening condition that impacts more than 35 million adults in the U.S. Dawkins' parents have a history of both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which makes it critical for both to focus on their kidney health, and is why he joined the cause. Dawkins was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and shared his wisdom with the safety class as they enter the 2025 NFL Draft. "The thing that I would tell all of them is, don't set yourself into one seat like that. What I mean by that is, don't plug yourself at being a one-role type of person because that person is not likely to be able to have success on this next level, with where the game has gone; you have to be versatile," said Dawkins, "You have to be able to do a multitude of things. So, the more you can do at a high level, the better you will be. For that defensive coordinator, you become a chess piece. Instead of a checker moving from one place to the next, that piece can move everywhere. So you become a chess piece. Make sure that you're versatile in that way. Make sure your mindset is that you're versatile so that your body will follow the lead of your mind." From 2016 to 2017, Dawkins worked in the Eagles' front office as the executive for player development in football operations. He reflected on handling the draft from that perspective. "So I got a chance to see how all that stuff is put together, how the draft board is put together," said Dawkins. "I got another level of appreciation for the scouting department. Philadelphia has an extremely talented scouting department. Those cats put in a lot of hours to do what they do to make sure that the right individuals can fit into Philadelphia. Not everybody and I always say this, not everybody can play in Philadelphia. It is what it is like. You gotta have a certain mindset to play in Philadelphia." Dawkins worked in the front office during the Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl season, working closely with executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman. "So they do a great job of presenting Howie (Roseman) the different individuals that they believe could come into Philadelphia to play the game the way that it needs to be played again in Philadelphia, which is different." said Dawkins, "I've had a completely different appreciation for the hours that they spend, the traveling that they do all over America to make sure that as much as they can, they can vet the young person to make sure that he's a fit for Philadelphia."
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."
