Tony Dixon (American football)

Tony Dixon (born June 18, 1979) is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

Tony Dixon
No. 24
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1979-06-18) June 18, 1979
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Reform (AL) Pickens Co.
College:Alabama
NFL Draft:2001 / Round: 2 / Pick: 56
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:56
Tackles:109
Interceptions:1
Sacks:6
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Dixon attended Pickens County High School, where he was a two-way football player (running back and defensive back). He was a four-year starter and earned All-State honors two years in a row.

As a junior he registered 1,286 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns, 115 tackles and 6 interceptions (3 returned for touchdowns). The next year, he posted 1,450 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 2 touchdown passes, one receiving touchdown, 6 sacks, 4 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.

He also practiced baseball and basketball. He graduated fourth in his class and was the first athlete from his school to receive a division I scholarship.

College career

Dixon accepted a football scholarship from the University of Alabama. As a true freshman he collected 22 tackles (2 for loss) and one sack, earning his first career start at free safety against the University of Tennessee. The next year he became a regular starter at strong safety, making 75 tackles (third on the team), 2 tackles for loss and one interception.

As a junior, he split time between strong and free safety and was second on the team with 65 tackles. In his last year he started at free safety, finishing third on the team in tackles (90) and had 2 interceptions.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

The Dallas Cowboys traded down in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft,[1] sending to the Miami Dolphins the 52nd overall selection (Chris Chambers), in exchange for the 56th (used to select Dixon) and the 122nd (Markus Steele). As a rookie, he played on the nickel defense.

In his second season, he started the last six games at strong safety, after Darren Woodson suffered a season-ending groin injury, making 49 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback pressures, 2 passes defensed, one interception and 16 special teams (third on the team).

In 2003, he was a special teams standout, leading the team with 20 tackles.[2]

In 2004, after Woodson missed the season due to a herniated disc, he split time with Lynn Scott at strong safety, registering seven starts and finding a niche as a blitzer, tying for fifth in the NFL among defensive backs with 3 sacks. He wasn't re-signed after the season and finished his Cowboys career with 90 tackles (56 solo), 6 sacks, 10 passes defensed, 49 special teams tackles and one interception.

Washington Redskins

On June 18, 2005, signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Washington Redskins,[3] but was released before the start of the season on August 23.[4]

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On November 1, 2005, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to help improve the secondary depth.[5] He was cut on November 9 to make room for linebacker Quinton Caver. He was brought back for depth purposes on December 26. He wasn't re-signed at the end of the season.[6]

References
  1. "Tide's pipeline to pros continues". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. "Dixon getting his shot with Woodson injured". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  3. "Dixon likely signed as insurance policy". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. "Cowboys release A-Train, put Singleton on I.R." Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  6. "Cowboys release Cundiff, re-sign Suisham for finale". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
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