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| Former Philadelphia Eagles player Brian Dawkins (L) cheers the crowd with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie after retiring his number to the Eagles Hall of Fame on September 30, 2012 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. File photo by Laurence Kesterson/UPI | License Photo |
By The Sports Xchange, UPI
Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins is leaving the Philadelphia Eagles' front office but will remain with the team as a consultant.
Dawkins, who was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 3, spent the last two seasons as a football operations executive with Philadelphia. He is planning to pursue other endeavors, including entrepreneurship and philanthropy, the team said in a statement Tuesday.
"I want to thank Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Don Smolenski and Coach [Doug] Pederson for blessing me with the opportunity to return to this great organization," said Dawkins in a statement. "This is a special time in Philadelphia Eagles history and I am grateful to have been a part of the team's first Super Bowl Championship -- something I wanted to help bring to this great city, one way or another. I will always cherish the relationships I have within the building and it was a privilege to work side-by-side with so many great people.
"Although I am leaving my full-time role in football operations, I will always be a part of the Eagles family and the Philadelphia community. I look forward to continuing to work with the organization as a consultant while I also pursue other endeavors that are extremely important to me and my family's purpose to inspire hope and increase the minds, bodies and souls of so many to come."
Dawkins was part of a star-studded Hall of Fame class this year that included wide receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens and linebackers Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis.
A member of the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team, Dawkins was selected in his second year of eligibility.
Dawkins made nine career Pro Bowls -- second-most all-time by a safety -- and six career Associated Press All-Pro teams during his 16-year NFL career with the Eagles (1996-2008) and Denver Broncos (2009-11).
A second-round draft pick in 1996, Dawkins spent 13 seasons with the Eagles. He is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (183) and interceptions (34).
"Brian Dawkins will always be a Philadelphia Eagle. We greatly appreciate all of Brian's contributions to our football operations department over the last two seasons and we are excited that he will continue to help us going forward," the Eagles said in a statement. "As an NFL Hall of Famer and a Philadelphia Eagles legend, Brian is able to provide valuable perspective and draw on his extensive experience in the NFL while working in our front office.
"Our doors will always be open to him and we will support him in anything he does -- both professionally and personally -- as he continues his post-playing career."
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