Dixon Edwards

Dixon Voldean Edwards, III (born March 25, 1968) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League from 1991 through 1998. He played college football at Michigan State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Early years

Born on March 25, 1968, Edwards attended Aiken High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he earned all-district honors as a tight end and defensive tackle.

As a junior in 1989 at Michigan State University, in his first season as a starter, he finished second on the team in tackles (111) to All-American Percy Snow and tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (11), earning an All-Big Ten honorable-mention.^[1]

As a senior he had 112 tackles, 7 for losses and 2 forced fumbles. Edwards led the Spartans with a single-game career-high 16 tackles in their upset of then-No. 1 ranked Michigan University, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors at the end of the year.

During his college career he registered 227 career tackles, helping the Spartans to a 31-14-1 record, two Big Ten titles and a 3-1 bowl game record (including the 1988 Rose Bowl win).^[2]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Edwards, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft. Because of his speed and hitting ability, he was moved to strongside linebacker, even though he had a small frame at 6-1 and 225 pounds.

In 1995 he was third on the team in tackles with 109.^[3]

In the 90's, the Cowboys organization felt they could find linebackers through the draft, without the need of paying a premium and adversely impacting the salary cap, so they allowed talented and productive players like him, Ken Norton, Jr., Darrin Smith, Robert Jones and Randall Godfrey, to leave via free agency, instead of signing them to long-term contracts.

During his 5 seasons with the Cowboys, Edwards helped the team win 3 Super Bowls, playing as a starter in Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl XXX. In 1996 after he left as a free agent, the Cowboys replaced him by signing Broderick Thomas.

Minnesota Vikings

In 1996 Edwards signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings, replacing Broderick Thomas and becoming the Vikings highest paid linebacker in franchise history. During training camp Ed McDaniel was injured, so the team was forced to move him to weakside linebacker, where he would have the best year of his career with 122 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception.

In 1997, he was moved back to the strongside linebacker position, where his production began to decline.

He was released after the 1998 season for salary cap reasons. In his three years with the Vikings, Edwards started 43 of the 45 games, he had 250 tackles, five sacks, an interception, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Miami Dolphins

In 1999 the Miami Dolphins signed him to a one-year contract, to add depth and experience at the outside linebacker position, while reuniting him with Jimmy Johnson. In training camp he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and although he was medically cleared, he decided to stop playing and was released before the season started.^[4]

Edwards appeared in 120 regular season games in his career, starting 90 of them. His NFL career statistics include 573 tackles, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions for 54 yards and a touchdown, four fumble recoveries, seven forced fumbles and 19 passes defensed. He also had 50 special teams tackles.

Personal life

On KTCK AM in Dallas, Edwards is known for an interview he did where he said the words "you know" an inordinate number of times to the point where it became unintentionally comedic.^[5]

References