Brian Dawkins Brian Patrick Dawkins ( born October 13 , 1973 ) , nicknamed Weapon X , is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League ( NFL ) for sixteen seasons . He played college football for Clemson University . He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft , and played thirteen seasons for Philadelphia . Dawkins played his final three seasons for the Denver Broncos . A nine - time Pro Bowl selection , Dawkins is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team , the NFL 2000s All - Decade Team and the 20 / 20 Club ( 20 sacks , 20 interceptions ) . Dawkins will be eligible for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 . Early years . Dawkins was born and raised in Jacksonville , Florida and first saw his future wife in junior high school . He dated Connie Kerrin while attending William M . Raines High School ; she was a majorette while he played football and basketball . They graduated in 1992 . College career . Dawkins attended Clemson University in Clemson , South Carolina . A three - year starter at free safety for Clemson Tigers football team , he finished his career with 247 tackles and 11 interceptions . He received First - team All - ACC Honors in 1995 and was named a Second - Team AP and Sportingnews All - American as a senior when his team - high six interceptions tied him for the conference lead . He was named the first - team strong safety on Clemson ' s all - centennial team in 1996 and was selected to their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 . On January 11 , 2013 , Clemson University established the Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award to annually honor a former Clemson player for their performance on the field , contributions in leadership and community service . Professional career . Philadelphia Eagles . Dawkins was drafted in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles . As a rookie in 1996 , he replaced Eric Zomalt as the starting free safety , remaining in that position throughout his 13 year career in Philadelphia . In 1996 , he started 13 of the 14 games he played in , recording 75 tackles , a sack , and three interceptions . Dawkins ' rookie season would also see the squad of him , Bobby Taylor , and Troy Vincent form in the Eagles secondary that formed the core of the Eagles defense through 2003 , and was instrumental in placing the Eagles among the best defenses in the league . Dawkins made his first of nine Pro Bowl s in 1999 , earning a reputation as a hard - hitting ball - hawk with the alter - ego Weapon X , codename of Marvel character Wolverine , the comic book superhero known for relentless aggression . His emergence as one of the premier safeties in the NFL earned him the role of Eagles ' defensive captain , and a mainstay on the Eagles . In 2002 in a game versus the Houston Texans he became the first player in NFL history to record a sack , an interception , forced fumble , and touchdown reception in a single game . This performance , as well as his consistent Pro Bowl - caliber play , earned him a seven - year contract extension at the conclusion of the 2002 season . In 2004 , after three consecutive NFC Championship defeats , the Eagles finally advanced to the Super Bowl with a win over the Atlanta Falcons ; the Eagles ultimately would lose to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl , 24 - 21 . It was Dawkins ' first , and only Super Bowl appearance . During the 2008 season , he became the tenth member of the 20 / 20 Club and broke the Eagles record for games played surpassing Harold Carmichael who had 180 . The 2008 season was a memorable one for Dawkins and the Eagles , as the 5 - 5 - 1 team went on a 4 - 1 surge to make an improbable run to the NFC Championship game where they lost to the Arizona Cardinals , in what turned out to be Dawkins ' final game as an Eagle . He is also a member of the 30 / 30 club of players who have at least 30 interceptions and 30 forced fumbles . He and Charles Tillman are the only players to record at least 35 of each . ( Forced Fumbles have only been a recorded stat since 1991 ) He finished his career with the Eagles starting 182 of 183 games , recording 898 tackles , 34 interceptions , 32 forced fumbles , and 21 sacks . Denver Broncos . On February 28 , 2009 , Dawkins signed a five - year , $ 17 million contract with the Denver Broncos . He joined another teammate , Correll Buckhalter , who also signed with the Broncos . The contract included $ 7 . 2 million guaranteed and a termination clause that permitted Dawkins to opt out of the contract after two years and receive an extra $ 1 . 8 million , virtually making the contract for two years and $ 9 million . Dawkins could have also earned an additional $ 10 million in performance incentives . On December 29 , 2009 , the NFL announced that Dawkins was the starter of the AFC Pro Bowl team as a strong safety . Dawkins played in 16 of 16 games for the 2009 Broncos . He totaled 116 tackles and 2 interceptions . In the following two seasons , injuries hampered Dawkins . In 2010 , he compiled 66 tackles and 2 interceptions while only playing in 11 games . Dawkins played in 14 games the following 2011 season , compiling just 38 tackles in limited snaps . He was voted into the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl team as the team ' s starting strong safety , after an injury to Troy Polamalu prevented him from attending . Retirements . After calling Coach John Fox on April 23 , 2012 , Dawkins announced via Twitter that he was retiring from the NFL . His reasoning was he wanted to retire while he was still healthy . He planned to stay in Colorado , and wanted to begin coaching high school football that fall . On April 28 , 2012 , Dawkins alongside Jeffrey Lurie announced that he would sign a one - day contract , and retire as a Philadelphia Eagle . The Eagles retired Dawkins ' s number 20 in a ceremony at halftime of their September 30 game against the New York Giants . The Eagles have only retired 9 player ' s jerseys in franchise history , which goes back nearly 80 years . Career Stats . Defensive Stats Personal life . In an interview , Dawkins talked about getting married : " I went to college at Clemson , and she ( Connie ) transferred there my second year , after one year at Jacksonville University . The night before going back to school our junior year , I asked her to marry me . Her grandfather gave us $ 100 . $ 59 for my ring and $ 41 for hers – and we eloped . We went to the Justice of the Peace . " In early 2007 , Dawkins and his wife had twin daughters , Chonni and Cionni . Both daughters were born two months premature , but are currently healthy . Dawkins , with his wife , Connie , also have two other children , Brian Jr . and Brionni . After eloping in 1994 , the couple had a wedding ceremony with family and friends at the Palm Beach Breakers Hotel in July 2009 . While with the Eagles , Dawkins had been a resident of Voorhees Township , New Jersey , but put his house there up for sale after joining the Broncos . After Dawkins signed with the Broncos in 2009 , Dan Leone , an Eagles employee who was a gate chief at Lincoln Financial Field was fired by the Eagles after Leone posted messages on his Facebook page expressing his disappointment in the team . Dawkins announced that he would give his two allotted game tickets for the 2009 Eagles - Broncos game to Leone , saying , " I felt it would be a good thing , to reach out to that individual and just let him know how much I appreciate it . " Dawkins ' nephew , Dalyn , plays running back for Purdue University .