Nine-time Pro Bowl Safety Brian Dawkins Joins ESPN as NFL Studio Analyst

Nine-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins is joining ESPN as a NFL analyst. He will appear on studio programs throughout the year such as SportsCenter, NFL Live, Audibles and NFL32. He will make his debut on Audibles on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. ET, alongside Keyshawn Johnson, Jerry Rice and Marcellus Wiley.

Dawkins, who retired from professional football this spring, played a total of 16 NFL seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles (1996-2008) and Denver Broncos (2009-11). He was a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and the Eagles' 75th Anniversary Team. His career numbers include 1,131 tackles, 26 sacks and 37 interceptions in 224 games (221 as a starter), ranking him among the league's all-time top safeties. He started for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX and in four consecutive NFC Championship games (2001-04 seasons).

"Brian was an exceptional player and a leader in the two locker rooms he called home. His knowledge and fresh off-the-field perspective will give our viewers a better understanding of the game," said Seth Markman, ESPN senior coordinating producer for NFL studio shows.

Dawkins said: "I'm so blessed and excited to say that I'll now be working at a place that I've watched for as long as I can remember. All the things that led me to have a pretty successful NFL career, I plan on bringing to this next phase in my life. New challenges!"

During his 13 years in Philadelphia, Dawkins was one of the team's vocal leaders and a centerpiece of the defensive unit, starting 182 of 183 games. The Eagles selected him No. 61 overall (second round) in the 1996 NFL Draft out of Clemson.

Dawkins earned the first of his nine Pro Bowl selections in 1999. He achieved this honor seven times as an Eagle (also in 2001, 2002, 2004-06 and 2008), and twice as a member of the Broncos (2009 and 2011), including his final season last year when he helped Denver win the AFC West and advance to the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Dawkins, who was the Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year recipient in 2008, retired from professional football in April as a member of the Eagles after signing a one-day contract with the team where he spent most of his career. The franchise will officially retire his No. 20 during week four of the upcoming NFL season.

Note: Dawkins joins ESPN's NFL analyst team as his former Eagles teammate, defensive end Hugh Douglas, moved from his NFL analyst role to become a permanent co-host of ESPN2's Numbers Never* Lie: http://bit.ly/NNLrelaunch