Former Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, who announced his retirement Monday, spoke to the Philadelphia press in a conference call about his time with the Eagles.
Dawkins was asked what his favorite moment was of his 13 year career in Philadelphia.
“When we finally won the NFC Championship game after losing all those times in a row,” Dawkins said of the 2005 win. “Seeing the joy on Jim Johnson’s face, the tears in his eyes, I’ll never forget that.”
The Eagles went on to the Super Bowl, but fell to the Patriots in a 24-21 loss. While Dawkins said the loss really hurt, it wasn’t the lowest of the lows. He felt that after that loss, they had a real chance at getting back into another Super Bowl.
Three years later, the Eagles would play in the NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals. That loss was the most difficult of his career with the Eagles. At that point, unbeknownst to most outside of the Eagles organization, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was battling cancer, and Dawkins felt like it may be the end of their run together. Coach Johnson died the following year.
When asked how Dawkins knew it was time for him to retire, he said he just knew.
“When I got peace about me stepping away from the game,” Dawkins said, “knowing I could play this game for at least another year gave me peace.”
Dawkins said injuries are not preventing him from playing another year in the NFL, and that while it would be a privilege and an honor to play with Peyton Manning, “It didn’t give me that juice.”
As far as a future in coaching with the Eagles, Dawkins said if that were to happen it would be way down the road, but right now he doesn’t see himself coaching in the NFL. He is currently coaching his son in high school football.
Brian Dawkins will be honored at Lincoln Financial Field by the Eagles on September 30th before they take on the New York Giants.
