Tag: Phil Dawson

Former kicker Phil Dawson announced as the next member of Browns Legends

The former kicker will be honored during the game against the Giants

Until recently, there haven’t been many stretches of Cleveland Browns football that are fondly remembered. In fact, there haven’t been many players who were consistently good during that time period. But kicker Phil Dawson was among the few bright spots during those dark years of Browns football.

The team announced on Tuesday that Dawson will join the 2024 class of Browns Legends and will be honored during halftime of the Week 3 matchup with the New York Giants. Dawson officially retired from the NFL in 2019 after signing a one day with the Browns to retire as a member of the team.

All told, Dawson played 14 seasons with the Cleveland Browns from 1999 until 2012 before he left to play for San Francisco. Over his 20 seasons in the NFL, Dawson completed 83.8 percent of his field goal attempts and 97.6 percent of his extra-point attempts.

Before Dustin Hopkins, Dawson was the last kicker the Browns had who didn’t make you nervous about lining up for an important kick.

Browns K Dustin Hopkins breaks Phil Dawson’s long-standing records in Cleveland

The Browns have found a gem in Dustin Hopkins, who has established himself in the record books with Cleveland’s leading-scorer Phil Dawson

After drilling a 55-yard dagger to close out a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, kicker Dustin Hopkins has established himself at the top of the single-season leaderboard with the franchise’s leading scorer Phil Dawson.

According to The OBR’s Brad Stainbrook, Hopkins has now topped Dawson in two different kicking categories with four games still to play in 2023. Hopkins has now made the most field goals in a single season in Browns’ franchise history and has drilled the most kicks of over 50 yards in a single season as well.

Topping Dawson’s 2008 numbers, Hopkins now sits with 31 made field goals on the season. He has hit eight of over 50 yards on the season, edging out Dawson’s 2011 and 2012 seasons where he hit seven in a single year.

The acquisition of Hopkins will go down as a season-altering move, shipping off a seventh round pick in the 2025 NFL draft to obtain his services.

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Browns legend Phil Dawson breaks ceremonial guitar before game vs. 49ers

A legend returns.

The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers are now underway, but there were multiple fireworks in the pregame festivities as well. First, the Browns and 49ers got into a bit of a sideline shoving match to get the game underway, but legendary kicker Phil Dawson also made an appearance in this game to smash the ceremonial guitar.

Dawson, of course, is Cleveland’s all-time leading scorer, who then finished his career with the 49ers after he was released by the Browns in 2012. A homecoming for both teams, it was lovely to see Dawson back in Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The two missed kicks today, however, are probably enough to make him leave. The game currently sits 7-0 as the Browns are doing their best to hang with the Niners despite being backed against the wall injury-wise.

Can they keep battling and find a way to stay competitive in a relatively ugly football game?

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WATCH: Retired K Phil Dawson drills a 55 yarder at 48 years old

Can the Browns just bring Phil Dawson back?

The Cleveland Browns have not been able to find sustained success from a kicker since they parted ways with Phil Dawson following the 2012 season. And 11 years since that decision, the Browns are still looking for a kicker as Cade York is highly unlikely to make the roster after an abysmal preseason showing.

Dawson, however, is up to his usual self as he is still drilling 55-yard field goals at the age of 48. Can the Browns just bring back the old man to drill kicks for them like in the old days?

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Browns LB Anthony Walker changes to an unusual jersey number

No, that’s not Phil Dawson playing LB for the Browns…

When watching the Cleveland Browns defense play this year, it will look a little strange to see a player wearing a No. 4 jersey in the middle.

No, it’s not Phil Dawson trying something new. The No. 4 jersey in Cleveland now belongs to linebacker Anthony Walker.

The LB is changing numbers from 54 to 4. While the Browns have not officially updated the roster, Walker donned the new jersey in Thursday’s minicamp session in Berea.

It’s a new look for Walker, who has worn more normal numbers for LBs (50 and 54) during his entire NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. Walker sported No. 18 in college at Northwestern for two years before switching to No. 1 in his final Wildcats campaign.

The NFL changed the allowable jersey numbers for various positions this offseason. Linebackers are now allowed to wear numbers below 50, among the changes, and Walker is taking advantage of the rule change.

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Longhorns well-represented on 2021 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Ballot

The Texas Sports Hall of Fame listed their ballot for the 2021 class. The Longhorns have nine former athletes up for induction.

The Texas Sports Hall of Fame recently released their 2021 ballots and it has plenty of former Texas Longhorns on it. There are two ballots with one being the primary and the other being the veteran ballot. In total there are nine Longhorns and seven are on the primary ballot. The sports range from football, basketball, softball and track and field.

Primary Ballot

Phil Dawson, Kicker

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The first former Longhorn on the ballot is former kicker Phil Dawson. Dawson played for Texas from 1994-97. He would appear in 46 games in that span. Twice he led the conference in extra point attempts, extra points made and field goal percentage. He would finish his Longhorns career with 339 points scored, his career high of 108 was set in 1996.

He would go on to enjoy a NFL career that lasted until 2018. Most of his career was spent in Cleveland for 14 seasons. He would join the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons and the final two in Arizona with the Cardinals. He played in 305 games total. In that time he converted 83.8 percent of his field goal attempts and 97.6 percent of his extra point attempts.

He would finish his career with 1,847 points over his 20-year NFL career. He was selected to his only Pro Bowl in 2012, which would also be his last year in Cleveland. Dawson ranks second in Browns history for most points scored. He only trails legendary kicker Lou Groza.

Accomplishments:

  • All-American kicker and four-year starter who left UT with 13 Longhorn records, including all-time marks for scoring (339), field goals (59) and field goal accuracy (74.7 percent)
  • Finished his career ranked 16th on the NCAA all-time scoring list, 12th on the NCAA all-time kick-scoring chart and 31st on the NCAA all-time field goals made list
  • Set a UT record by hitting 15 straight field goals in 1996-97; set a UT record by making six straight field goals from 50 or more yards from 1995-97
  • Connected on 64.3 percent of his field goals from 40 yards and further (27 of 42) during his college career
  • Signed as free agent with Cleveland in 1999
  • Hall of Honor inductee in 2012
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