# Marcus Dixon

Marcus Dwayne Dixon (born September 16, 1984) is an American football coach and a former defensive end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He is the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Dixon was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Hampton University.
Dixon is also known for a 2003 court case in which, whilst still at high school, he was convicted of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. The latter charge was later overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court.

## Early life

Dixon was a grade A student and excelled on the football field to the point where he had been offered a full scholarship at Vanderbilt University, which he was unable to undertake due to his subsequent imprisonment.

## College career

Upon his release from prison, Dixon accepted a football scholarship from Division I-AA Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.

## Professional career
### Dallas Cowboys

In 2010, Dixon saw limited playing time during preseason. He was released on September 4, 2010.

### New York Jets

On September 5, 2010, Dixon was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets.
An exclusive rights free agent, Dixon was signed to a one-year contract on January 26, 2011.
Dixon was released on September 1, 2012. He was re-signed to the active roster on September 4. He appeared in 3 games, before being released on September 24.

### Kansas City Chiefs

On February 9, 2013, Dixon was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was cut on August 31.

### Tennessee Titans

On January 3, 2014, Dixon was signed to a futures contract with the Tennessee Titans. He was released during final cuts on August 29.

### BC Lions

On October 20, 2014, Dixon was signed to the BC Lions practice roster in the Canadian Football League. He made his CFL debut in the final game of the regular season against the Calgary Stampeders. He was re-signed on March 2, 2015. He retired on April 30, 2015.

## Coaching career
### Rams

The Los Angeles Rams hired Dixon as their assistant defensive line coach on February 23, 2021. Dixon won his first Super Bowl championship when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

### Denver Broncos

On February 18, 2022, Dixon was hired by the Denver Broncos to serve as the team's defensive line coach for the 2022 season.

## Personal life
### Dixon v. State

Kristie Brown alleged that on February 10, 2003, Dixon forced her to have sex, taking her virginity. She has stated that contrary to Dixon's supporters' belief, she was never Dixon's girlfriend and although they shared classes, they barely knew each other. The jury acquitted Dixon of rape, battery, assault and false imprisonment, but because Brown was only 15 and Dixon 18 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at the mandatory amount under Georgia law, ten years imprisonment. If he had been found guilty of rape, he would have faced a much less severe punishment.
Supporters of Dixon including the NAACP and the Rev. Joseph Lowery's People's Agenda alleged the charges were racially motivated. The President of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman called it a "Legal Lynching".

### Overturned conviction and release

The Georgia Supreme Court overturned Dixon's conviction for child molestation and he was released the same day, on May 3, 2004. The court let his conviction for misdemeanor statutory rape stand. After Dixon's release both he and Brown appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in an attempt to clarify their stories.