Player Profile

PRO: Despite being considered an undersized linebacker from a small college, Dexter Coakley has made a lasting impression on the National Football League. After earning the starting weakside linebacker job as a rookie third-round draft choice, Coakley has strung together six impressive seasons - finishing in the top three on the team in tackles each year. His string of six consecutive 100-tackle seasons is the first such streak in the 23 years that tackle records exist for the team. In addition, he has reached double figures in tackles 37 times in 95 career regular season games. Coakley became just the second Dallas linebacker in the last 17 years and only the seventh linebacker in club history to be selected to the Pro Bowl when he earned a spot on the NFC squad following the 1999 season. With another Pro Bowl honor in 2001, Coakley became the first Dallas linebacker to earn multiple trips since Bob Breunig (three times - last in 1982). But none of his accomplishments, including earning All-Pro honors in 1999, came as a surprise to Coakley, who has been exceeding expectations throughout his entire athletic career with his quickness and intensity. His speed and athleticism has earned him the reputation as one of the biggest playmakers in Dallas Cowboys defensive history. The ability to spark the team with a game-turning play has enabled him to tie Dennis Thurman's club record with five career touchdowns on defensive returns (fumble - 1, interceptions - 4). A team leader in the locker room and on the field, Coakley is a focal point on a Dallas defense that is built on speed and pursuit. He has also been a very visible special teams contributor throughout his career. Coakley's leadership ability was documented at the start of the 2002 season when his teammates elected him as a co-captain of the defense along with Darren Woodson. Coakley signed a six-year contract extension on March 8, 2001.

2002: Coakley established a single-season career best mark with 173 tackles, a figure that was the eighth best in the NFL and the third best in the NFC. The tackle total eclipsed his previous career high of 144 in 2000 and became the second highest single-season total in team history behind Eugene Lockhart's 222 stops in 1989. In the season opener at Houston (9/8), Coakley tied for second on the team with seven tackles. He also added a sack, a pressure and broke up a pass as the defense limited the Texans to 201 total yards. In the following week's win over Tennessee (9/15), he again was second on the team with eight tackles but turned the game completely around in the third quarter with a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown to give Dallas the lead for good at 14-10. Strong safety Darren Woodson hit Steve McNair as he was throwing, and Coakley ran under the ball for the interception. It was his fifth career return for a touchdown, tying the club record held by Dennis Thurman, and his fourth interception return for a score. At Philadelphia (9/22), Coakley led the team with 12 tackles, his first double-digit tackle game of the season, while also adding two quarterback pressures. In Dallas' last-second win at St. Louis (9/29), he finished fourth on the team with seven tackles while breaking up a pass and recovering a first quarter Marshall Faulk fumble. Coakley's heads-up play helped limit the Rams to 93 yards on the ground. He recorded his 700th career tackle in the first quarter of the victory over the Rams. In Dallas' 14-13 win over Carolina (10/13), Coakley led the team with a then career-high tying 17 tackles as the Panthers were limited to a 3.5 yards-per-carry average and a long run of nine yards. He established a new personal best for tackles in a game at Arizona (10/20) with 19, the third best single-game total in club history. His 15 solo tackles tied his career-high (at Seattle, 12/16/01) and was the second best single-game total by a Dallas player. He also tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles. In the last second loss at Detroit (11/3), Coakley was second on the team with nine tackles while adding a pressure and breaking up a pass. He helped limit the Lions to 148 total yards, the fewest by a Dallas opponent since Sept. 8, 1996 when the Giants were held to 105 total yards. Detroit ran the ball 23 times for 52 yards (2.3 average) and was held out of the end zone. In the loss at Indianapolis (11/17), he was the team leader with 14 tackles. In the Thanksgiving Day win over Washington (11/28), Coakley totaled six tackles, broke up a pass and helped hold Stephen Davis to 51 yards on 20 carries (2.6 avg.), while the defense allowed just 121 second half yards on eight Redskins' possessions. The following week against San Francisco (12/8), he was third on the team with 10 tackles, while adding a tackle for a loss as the 49ers running backs were limited to 22 carries for 75 yards (3.4 avg.). He established a new personal single-season high for tackles in the loss at New York (12/15) as his 10 stops pushed him to 145 for the year and passed his previous best total of 144 in 2000. He led the team with 10 tackles against Philadelphia (12/21) before posting the second highest tackle total of his career with 18 stops in the season-ending loss at Washington (12/29).

2001: Coakley was a key cog on the NFL's fourth ranked defense, finishing second on the team with 134 tackles. In recognition of his outstanding season and the performance by the entire Dallas defense, Coakley was recognized with the second Pro Bowl selection of his career, replacing Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks. Coakley opened the season with five tackles against Tampa Bay (9/9) while helping limit the Bucs running game to 71 yards on 33 carries (2.2 avg.), including 22 carries for 56 yards by Warrick Dunn (2.5). The following week against San Diego (9/23), he tied for the team lead in tackles with nine and recovered a third quarter fumble. On the day, LaDainian Tomlinson was held to just a 3.3-yard average on 27 carries. Coakley tied for the team lead with 10 tackles and forced a Brian Mitchell fumble on punt coverage to set up a Dallas field goal at Philadelphia (9/30). He came back the next week to lead the team with 11 tackles at Oakland (10/7). Against Arizona (10/28), Coakley recorded the game's pivotal play when he intercepted a Jake Plummer pass and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown in the 17-3 win. He was also second on the team with 11 tackles and forced a fumble as the Cardinals were limited to 75 rushing yards. Coakley returned an interception for a touchdown for the second consecutive week when he took a pass from Kerry Collins 29 yards for a score at the N.Y. Giants (11/4). He also finished second on the team with nine tackles as the Giants were held to 93 rushing yards on 26 carries (3.6 avg.). Coakley recorded the 600th tackle of his career with five tackles at Atlanta (11/11) but suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee late in the game. That injury forced him to miss the first game of his career when the Cowboys took the field against Philadelphia (11/18), snapping a string of 72 consecutive starts. He returned to the starting lineup and recorded eight tackles against Denver (11/22). The following week at Washington (12/2), Coakley's six tackles helped limit Stephen Davis, the NFC's third leading rusher entering the game, to 53 yards on 17 carries. Coakley tied for the team lead with eight tackles against the N.Y. Giants (12/9) while helping hold the Giants to 245 yards of total offense, including just 73 yards on their final eight possessions. When the Cowboys visited Seattle (12/16), Coakley recorded a then career-high 17 tackles, including 15 solo - the second most in a game in club history. The 17 stops also put him over the 100-tackle mark for the season. He again led the team with nine tackles at Arizona (12/23) before helping hold San Francisco (12/30) and the NFL's second ranked running game (146 yards-per-game) to 56 yards on the ground with seven tackles. Coakley wrapped up his season with a team-high 14 tackles at Detroit (1/6).

2000: Coakley again performed at his expected high level, posting a then career-high 144 tackles to finish second on the team while tying for the team lead with seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Six times during the 2000 season, he led or tied for the team lead in tackles in a game and 10 times he posted double-figure tackle totals. He opened the season against Philadelphia (9/3) by leading all linebackers with 10 tackles. He posted 10 stops to help limit the Redskins to 3.7 yards-per-carry at Washington (9/18). He recorded another 10 stops against San Francisco (9/24), and he led the team with a season-high 13 tackles at Carolina (10/1). At the N.Y. Giants (10/15), Coakley led the team with 11 tackles while adding a stop behind the line of scrimmage. He registered another eight stops against Arizona (10/22) in helping limit the Cardinals to 99 total yards through the first three quarters before leaving the 48-7 win. He posted his sixth double-digit tackle game when he tallied 10 stops against Jacksonville (10/29). At Philadelphia (11/5), Coakley helped limit four Eagles running backs to 77 rushing yards on 25 carries (3.1 avg.) while recording 12 tackles. For the third time, he led the team in tackles, recording 12 stops against Cincinnati (11/12) while helping limit the Bengals to 195 total yards of offense. He recorded seven stops at Baltimore (11/19), including the 500th tackle of his career. He tied for the team lead with six tackles against Minnesota (11/23). He recovered a Stephen Davis fumble to set up a Dallas touchdown early in the third period against Washington (12/10). He again led the team with 11 tackles against the N.Y. Giants (12/17), including two stops for losses, to help limit the Giants to 3.2 rushing yards-per-carry. In the season finale at Tennessee (12/25), Coakley led the team with 11 tackles and forced a fumble.

1999: Coakley turned in another phenomenal season, leading the team with four interceptions, tying for the team lead with six tackles for a loss, finishing second with 131 tackles, tying for third with nine passes defensed and finishing fifth with 12 special teams tackles. His four interceptions were the most by a Dallas linebacker since Lee Roy Jordan totaled six in 1975, and he was the first linebacker to lead the team in interceptions since Eugene Lockhart in 1989. Coakley's performance throughout the season earned him his first Pro Bowl selection, the first Dallas linebacker to earn a Pro Bowl spot since Ken Norton in 1993. He also earned first-team All-Pro honors from Sports Illustrated and second-team All-Pro honors from College & Pro Football Newsweekly and Football Digest. He opened the season at Washington (9/12) tying for the team lead with nine tackles, including a tackle for a loss on third down that led to a Redskins punt with 3:01 remaining in the game, setting Dallas up for its game tying touchdown drive. Against Atlanta (9/20), he finished with five tackles after intercepting a Tony Graziani pass on the Falcons opening drive and returning it 43 yards to set up a Dallas field goal. He led the team with 11 tackles at Philadelphia (10/10). At the N.Y. Giants (10/18), he posted a season-high 12 tackles while helping limit the Giants to 228 yards of offense. Against Washington (10/24), Coakley posted eight tackles while helping limit the Redskins to 61 rushing yards, and he registered six stops while forcing a fumble at Indianapolis (10/31). He tied for the team lead with eight tackles at Minnesota (11/8) and 11 stops against Green Bay (11/14) as the Packers were held to 40 yards rushing. At Arizona (11/21), he led the team with 10 tackles while recording two tackles for losses and a sack. On Thanksgiving Day against Miami (11/25), Coakley recorded the first multi-interception game of his career, picking off Dan Marino twice, returning the first pick 46 yards for the game's first score. He also finished with 10 tackles and a career-high three passes defensed against the Dolphins to earn Phil Simms' Iron Man Award and NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Coakley totaled eight tackles, a career-high tying three passes defensed and an interception the next week at New England (12/5). He totaled seven stops at New Orleans (12/24) and against the N.Y. Giants (1/2/00). Coakley recorded eight tackles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at Minnesota (1/9/00).

1998: Coakley followed a stellar rookie campaign with a solid sophomore season, finishing second on the team with 127 tackles. He closed the year with eight passes defensed, tying the third highest total on the team. Coakley was a big part of limiting the Cardinals to 45 rushing yards and 205 total yards by recording three tackles and two passes defensed against Arizona (9/6). At Denver (9/13), he led the team with 11 tackles. The next week at the N.Y. Giants (9/21), he finished with six tackles and two passes defensed as the Dallas defense limited the Giants to 56 yards. He posted nine tackles against Oakland (9/27) and seven stops at Washington (10/4). Coakley registered eight tackles while helping the defense hold Carolina (10/11) to 37 yards on 21 carries (1.8 avg.). At Chicago (10/18), he led the team with a season-high 15 tackles while also recording a first quarter sack and picking off a third quarter pass to set up a Dallas touchdown. When the Cowboys limited the Eagles to 200 yards of total offense (96 rushing, 104 passing) at Philadelphia (11/2), Coakley led the team with eight tackles and added his second sack of the season. He was second on the team the next week with eight tackles against the N.Y. Giants (11/8). His eight tackles against Minnesota (11/26) on Thanksgiving Day tied him for the team lead. Over the final four games of the regular season, at New Orleans (12/6), at Kansas City (12/13), against Philadelphia (12/20) and Washington (12/27), Coakley recorded nine tackles a game. In the Eagles contest, he also led the team with two special team tackles, giving him 10 for the season - sixth best on the team. In the season finale, his nine stops helped limit the Redskins to 80 yards rushing. In the first postseason action of his career, Coakley recorded five tackles and a special teams stop against Arizona (1/2/99).

1997: Coakley was awarded the starting job at weakside linebacker in training camp and never relinquished the position. By season's end, Coakley was the NFL's leader among all rookies in tackles with a Cowboys rookie record 136 stops - a total that was third on the Cowboys defensive list. He was named to All-Rookie teams selected by Pro Football Weekly and Football News. His 2.5 sacks were the most by a Dallas rookie since Russell Maryland registered 4.5 in 1991, and his sack total was good for seventh place among all NFL rookie defenders. Coakley was the club leader with 10 stops for losses. He was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for October after tallying 31 tackles, one tackle for a loss and a fumble return for a touchdown. Coakley became the first rookie to start a season opener for Dallas since Robert Jones in 1992 when he started at Pittsburgh (8/31). Coakley led the team with eight tackles and added his first career interception in his first NFL game, making him the first rookie linebacker to record an interception for Dallas since Dixon Edwards had one against Cincinnati on Oct. 13, 1991. The next week at Arizona (9/7), he totaled eight stops, two tackles for losses, two quarterback pressures and a pass deflection. He also had a sack in overtime that forced a Kent Graham fumble that Dallas recovered. Coakley finished second on the team with 11 tackles at Washington (10/13). He also picked up a Redskins fumble and returned it 16 yards for his first career touchdown, making him the first rookie defender to record a touchdown for Dallas since Edwards scored against Cincinnati. It was also the first fumble return for a touchdown by a Dallas rookie since Larry Cole ran one back 21 yards at Washington on Nov. 17, 1968. He registered a season-high 12 tackles at Green Bay (11/23) while tying the club record with four tackles for a loss. He also registered a sack in the Packers game and went over the 100-tackle mark for the season. Four days later, he posted a season-high tying 12-tackle performance against Tennessee (11/27). In the process, he broke Robert Jones' single-season record for tackles by a rookie. He recorded his sixth double digit tackle game of the season with 10 stops against Carolina (12/8) before again totaling 10 stops in the season finale against the N.Y. Giants (12/21) while adding his 10th tackle for a loss.

COLLEGE: Coakley recorded a school record 616 tackles and 13 forced fumbles at Appalachian State, totaling double figure tackles in 37 games and at least 20 stops in seven games. Coakley was a first-team Division I-AA All-America and the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, junior and senior, and, in his first year at ASU, he was named the conference's Defensive Freshman of the Year. In 1995, he was named the inaugural recipient of the Buck Buchanan Award, which honor's the nation's best Division I-AA defensive player, and he went on to bring home the same award following his senior season. Coakley was also named the Southern Conference's Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior, marking just the seventh time in conference history that one individual had earned that distinction in consecutive years. As a senior, he accumulated a career-high 166 tackles and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week after having 20-tackle performances against Wake Forest, East Tennessee State and Furman. As a junior, he averaged 13.6 tackles-per-game in 11 regular season outings (150 total). Coakley was the defensive spark behind a Mountaineer team that went undefeated in the regular season and finished the year 12-1 after losing to Stephen F. Austin in a second round playoff game.

PERSONAL: A native of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Coakley graduated from Wando High School, where he earned four letters in football. He was the team's Most Valuable Player twice and was twice named all-conference as a defensive back. Coakley posted 295 tackles in his final two years of prep football and was named his school's athlete of the year as a senior. He also lettered in wrestling. Coakley earned a degree in communications and advertising at Appalachian State and worked in the school's sports information office. Coakley received the Cowboys Unsung Hero Award in 2002 as selected by his teammates and fans. The Unsung Hero Award honors one player from each NFL team whose determination and commitment transcends the playing field, but whose accomplishments on and off the field are seldom glorified. In November, 2001 Dexter, along with the entire Cowboys linebacker corps, hosted "Blitzed Hunger" and distributed 500 hams at The Salvation Army in the Cowboys/Hormel Hams for the Holidays program. Dexter annually serves as a celebrity escort in the Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show, which raises funds for pediatric oncology research. He has been a guest football coach at the club's Let Us Play! Sports Camp for Girls, a camp for girls ages 12-15 that are selected from various non-profit agencies in the D/FW metroplex. Dexter also served as a speaker for "Babe's Best," a program created by former Cowboys quarterback and current Dallas CBS affiliate sports anchor Babe Laufenberg to recognize outstanding high school athletes for their efforts on and off the field. In 2002, Dexter played in a local golf tournament that benefited Happy Hill Farm - a home and school for over 100 abused and neglected children which is also home of the Dallas Cowboys Courage House. Dexter and wife, Nicole, have a daughter, Trinity (3/11/03).