Adrian Fedkiw
Brian Dawkins is leaving the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office so he can devote himself to philanthropy.
Dawkins, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, joined the Eagles’ scouting department two years ago. The nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time NFL first teamer released a statement on his decision. He will become a consultant with the team
I want to thank Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Don Smolenski and Coach Pederson for blessing me with the opportunity to return to this great organization. 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. I have put a lot of time in prayer into this decision, and after talking it over with my family and listening to the Lord, I am being called in a different direction as I take the next step in my life and career.
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.
Here’s what Dawkins had to say to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Derrick Gunn via text.
Here’s what Brian Dawkins texted me a short while ago about why he’s leaving the eagles organization. pic.twitter.com/mugZdV8qAr
— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunnNBCS) May 22, 2018
When he joined the scouting department two years ago, Dawkins wanted to learn how a team was run.
It’s not just scouting. I’m trying to grasp the whole gambit of football operations of how a team is run. I’m learning about the scouting part of it — the terminology and all those things — but sometimes, it’s either you have an eye or you don’t. And I’ve been blessed to have an eye to be able to see talent. So if I can help in that respect, I’d love to do that, but also, I want to learn everything about running a football team. Sometimes, you’ve gotta step out of your comfort zone to really see what you can achieve. So this is something that I’m really looking forward to seeing if this is something that will move to something even bigger.
Dawkins spent the first 13 years of his career with the Eagles before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2009. He was one of the premier safeties in the game during his playing days, known for his passion, leadership, aggressiveness ball-hawking and hard-hitting style.
You can follow Adrian Fedkiw on Twitter (@AdrianFedkiw) and e-mail him at [email protected]. Subscribe to The Bitter Birds on YouTube here. Follow Philly Influencer on Twitter (@PHL_Influencer), Facebook and Instagram.