The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Dawson bows out where he started out
Kicker Phil Dawson retired from the NFL as a Cleveland Brown at age 44 after 20 seasons.
He spent his first 14 seasons with the Browns and sign a one-day contract with the team on Aug. 2 to ceremonially retire with the franchise. Dawson played in 305 games — the seventh most in league history — and ranks 11th with 1,847 points.
He says the “opportunity to come back home and retire with the organization and the city that I love is incredibly meaningful.” He adds that it “seems right” to do this with the “fans that have been so good to me and my family.”
Former Browns players and coached chimed in with reaction about Dawson:
Returner Josh Cribbs: “My nickname for Phil was ‘Old Faithful.’ We never had to look and worry about if he was going to make it. When it counted, he always came through. He literally won games for us and many times was the only opportunity for us to score. When our offense struggled, me and Phil had a pact. I would get us close enough and he would knock it down.”
Joe Thomas: “Phil Dawson is synonymous with some of my favorite moments as a Cleveland Brown. From him hitting the stanchion on the goalpost in Baltimore to the Snow Bowl game in Cleveland where he made two field goals in 40 mile winds and blizzard conditions.
He was the definition of a professional. I always admired the way he went about his business. He is a true class act and a great teammate, friend and family man.”
Former head coach Eric Mangini: “Phil Dawson is the type of player every organization hopes to find, every coach hopes to work with and every parent hopes their children model themselves after. Each season he was the example of consistency as a player, teammate and person. His drive to constantly find a way to improve personally was only overshadowed by his selflessness and willingness to help his teammates and team. It is rare for the kicker to have a notebook
that rivaled the quarterback, but Phil wanted to understand all aspects of his profession and be the most complete player possible. It is fitting that Phil scored the first points for the returning Browns because he is the type of player Browns fans deserve to cheer for. I am thankful and proud to have had a chance to be his coach, and am excited about the amazing things he will do after football.”
A Pro Bowl selection in 2012, Dawson began his career with Cleveland’s expansion team in 1999. He joined the 49ers as a free agent in 2013 and played with the Cardinals the last two seasons.
Dawson scored 1,271 points with the Browns, trailing only Hall of Famer Lou Groza in team history. His 441 field goals are eighth on the NFL career list.