Warrick Dunn Warrick De ' Mon Dunn ( born January 5 , 1975 ) is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League ( NFL ) for twelve seasons . He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft , after playing college football at Florida State . Dunn was named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1997 and earned three Pro Bowl selections in his career . After his playing career , Dunn took a minority stake in the Falcons ' ownership group led by Arthur Blank . Early years . At Catholic High in Baton Rouge , Louisiana , Dunn played quarterback , cornerback , and running back . During his sophomore year he helped lead Catholic High to the state 4A championship game for the first time in its history . He was an All - America honorable mention selection by USA Today as a senior . On January 7 , 1993 , Dunn ' s mother Betty Smothers , an off - duty police officer escorting a businesswoman to a bank to make a night deposit , was ambushed and killed by armed robbers . Three men were sent to prison for the murder , and 2 remain on death row . Dunn , two days after his 18th birthday , became the head of his family and raised his siblings . In 2007 , Dunn met with one of the convicted men at the Louisiana State Penitentiary . College career . Dunn enjoyed a successful college career at Florida State University , graduating in 1997 with a bachelor ' s degree in information studies . He holds several Florida State rushing records including the marks for most career rushing yards ( 3 , 959 ) and most rushing yards in a season ( 1 , 418 ) set in 1995 . Dunn is the only Seminole to rush for over 1 , 000 yards in three consecutive seasons . He was a three time All - ACC selection . Dunn ' s jersey , along with those of other Seminoles players such as Fred Biletnikoff , Ron Sellers , Ron Simmons , Charlie Ward , Deion Sanders , and Chris Weinke , has been retired by the university . His number , 28 , may still be worn by Seminole players , but his jersey will be displayed in the Moore Athletic Center at FSU . He also won a National Championship in 1993 with Florida State . Dunn ' s number 28 is now worn by red - shirt sophomore Nigel Terrell . Dunn was also an accomplished track and field star , named as an Associated Press All - American as a member of Florida State ' s Men ' s 4x100m relay team . Dunn competed on the Seminoles ' Track & Field team as a sprinter during all four years he was enrolled at Florida State . Professional career . First stint with Buccaneers . Dunn was selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft with the 12th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . In his rookie season Dunn made an immediate impact for the Buccaneers squad . As the year finished he was selected to the NFC Pro Bowl team and was named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year . Dunn spent the first five years of his career in Tampa Bay where he was named to the Pro Bowl twice ( 1997 , 2000 ) . Atlanta Falcons . A free agent in the 2002 offseason , Dunn signed with the Atlanta Falcons . Once again , he made a positive impact on his team with 9 total TDs and in that year , he led the league with a 5 . 4 yards per carry average . Dunn scored the most rushing touchdowns in his career , 9 , in the 2004 season despite splitting carries with T . J . Duckett and also led the team in rushing with 1 , 106 yards . Having led his team in rushing yards again in 2005 , Dunn was named the NFC ' s Pro Bowl team , marking his third selection to the team . For his career , Dunn has only missed 10 games and has a total of 2 , 256 carries for 9 , 461 yards 43 touchdowns and a 4 . 2 average . Dunn finished his first 10 seasons with over 1 , 000 combined rushing and receiving yards . During the 2007 season , with Falcons starting quarterback Byron Leftwich out with a high ankle sprain , Dunn served as the third string emergency quarterback behind Joey Harrington and Chris Redman , a position he played in high school . As of November 22 , 2007 Dunn is one of only 10 running backs 5 ' 11 " and under to rush for 10 , 000 yards . On March 3 , 2008 , the Falcons released Dunn per his request . This came a day after the Falcons signed former San Diego Chargers backup running back Michael Turner . On December 17 , 2009 he became a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons . Second stint with Buccaneers . On March 10 , 2008 , Dunn returned to the Buccaneers after signing a two - year , $ 6 million contract . In week 6 against the Carolina Panthers , Dunn had his first 100 yard game since re - joining the Buccaneers . Dunn was released by the Buccaneers on February 25 , 2009 . Personal . Charity . Dunn established the Homes for the Holidays ( HFTH ) program in 1997 , and started Warrick Dunn Charities ( WDC ) in 2002 as a way to grow programs and services . The HFTH program rewards single - parent families for reaching first - time homeownership . HFTH recipient families are chosen through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity affiliates and WDC with complete home furnishings and down - payment assistance . As of July 2012 , HFTH has assisted over 115 single parents and over 300 dependents in Atlanta , Baton Rouge , Tampa and Tallahassee . By providing families with a positive home environment , WDC believes that children can thrive educationally , socially and economically . Dunn ' s achievements have been recognized over the years . He received a Giant Steps Award in civic leadership from former President Bill Clinton for his program . In 2005 , Dunn was presented with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award ; named after the Chicago Bears running back who died in 1999 , the award is the only NFL award that recognizes a player for his community service as well as for his excellence on the field . In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina , Dunn challenged all NFL players , except for those who play for the New Orleans Saints , to donate at least $ 5 , 000 to the effort . The effort received over $ 5 million in contributions . In 2007 , Dunn , along with Andre Agassi , Muhammad Ali , Lance Armstrong , Jeff Gordon , Mia Hamm , Tony Hawk , Andrea Jaeger , Jackie Joyner - Kersee , Mario Lemieux , Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken , Jr . , founded Athletes for Hope , a charitable organization that helps professional athletes , sports industry professionals and fans get involved in charitable causes . [ 4 ] For his exceptional involvement on and off the field , Dunn was awarded with the 2009 Bart Starr Award . He also received a Jefferson Award for Outstanding Athlete in Service and Philanthropy in 2011 . In July 2012 , WDC launched Betty ’ s Hope . Named after Dunn ’ s mother , Betty Smothers , the mobile children ’ s bereavement program works to empower youth as they manage their grief in a responsive environment to heal and enhance their quality of life . Based in Baton Rouge , Betty ’ s Hope creates safe environments for support that are relevant , responsive and fun , through a mobile programming module that offers peer - group based grief support , community advocacy and awareness , parent / caregiver support , education and resources , and community support and training . Writing . Dunn ' s 2008 autobiography , " Running For My Life " ISBN 978 - 0 - 06 - 143264 - 4 , details his mother ' s murder and his battles with depression throughout his life .