Ex-Eagles Owens, Dawkins among eight in 2018 class
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. >> Eagles icon Brian Dawkins was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday, a reward for 16 scintillating seasons, in only his second year on the ballot.
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, who also played for the Eagles, was also among the local additions to the class. Hall of Fame spots per reports also included wide receiver Randy Moss, middle linebackers Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis, offensive lineman Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile and executive Bobby Beathard.
The formal announcement was to take place late Saturday night.
“This is a tremendous honor,” Dawkins said. “I’m not going by myself. There are a lot of people that helped me along the way.”
Dawkins, 44, was leading a crowd of fans in the Eagles’ fight song shortly after learning the good news — outdoors in the snow, no less. Since stepping away from the game following the 2011 season, Dawkins returned to the Eagles in a support role. He’s a football operations executive, working in scouting, helping in practices and giving individual instruction to players.
Though Dawkins was hopeful he’d get the Hall of Fame nod last year, the timing couldn’t be better as the Eagles oppose the Patriots in Super Bowl LII Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“It means that the City of Philadelphia is getting what it deserves — to celebrate,” Dawkins said. “And we’re going to celebrate this thing big-time.”
A second-round pick in 1996, Dawkins played 13 seasons with the Eagles, making nine trips to the Pro Bowl.
Dawkins intercepted 37 passes, forced 28 fumbles and notched 26 sacks in a career in which he spent the last three years with the Denver Broncos. He set aside any bitterness that then-Eagles executive Joe Banner low-balled him after the 2008 season, letting him walk away in free agency. He retired with the Eagles after signing a one-day contract.
Owens, 44, caught 1,078 passes Eagles great Brian Dawkins hams it up just prior to his introduction before a game in 2012 in which his number was retired at halftime. Dawkins was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday along with former teammate Terrell Owens.
BRIAN DAWKINS Chosen in second round (61st overall) by Eagles in 1996 draft . ... Voted Eagles’ Defensive MVP five times . ... Helped Eagles to eight playoff appearances . ... First-team All-Pro five seasons (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009) . ... Earned his first of nine Pro Bowls after 1999 season . ... First player in NFL history to get a sack, interception, fumble recovery and TD catch in same game (vs. Houston, 2002) . ... Set Eagles record for most games played . ... Voted to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s . ... Intercepted pass in 15 straight seasons . ... Led Eagles in interceptions back-to-back seasons (1997-98) . ... Made 37 career interceptions, returned for 513 yards and two TDs . ... Had multiple interceptions in a season 11 times . ... Averaged nearly 100 tackles per season throughout career. for 15,934 yards (14.8 average) and 98 touchdowns in 219 games spread among five teams.
Owens led the Eagles with 77 receptions for 1,200 yards (15.6 average) and 14 touchdowns in the 2004 season despite playing in just 14 games due to a fractured leg. He returned after an accelerated rehab to catch nine passes for 122 yards
TERRELL OWENS Drafted in third round in 1996 by San Francisco . ... Prolific receiver with great hands and ability for big plays . ... Career totals: 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 153 TDs . ... Yardage total ranks second all-time, TD reception total is third most in NFL history . ... Set thenrecord for catches in game with 20 against Bears in 2000 . ... Had 60 or more catches in all but three seasons . ... Had nine 1,000yard seasons over 11-year span . ... Eight seasons with double-digit TD receptions. ... Led NFL in TD catches three times (16 in 2001, 13 in 2002, and 13 in 2006) . ... Set career high with 1,451 yards in 2000, and 100 catches, 2002 . ... Voted All-Pro five times (2000-02, 2004, 2007). (13.6 average) in a 24-21 loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville.
Dawkins had six tackles in that Super Bowl setback.
Owens was suspended the following season after seven games for conduct detrimental to the team, ending his association with the Eagles.