Player Profile

PRO: Tony Dixon evolved into a very integral part of the Cowboys' defense in his second season in Dallas. Built from the same mold as the club's hard-hitting Darren Woodson, Dixon should help shore up the team's defense against both the pass and run. After a rookie campaign that saw him limited by injuries, Dixon bounced back in 2002 and became a key cog in the secondary and on special teams. His work in the nickel package and in place of an injured Darren Woodson gave him the opportunity to get on the field and show everyone the talent that made him a second round draft choice in 2001. He has shown a willingness to fill the holes and play aggressively near the line of scrimmage, but he is not limited to being a tough tackling run-stuffer. Dixon has also displayed good instincts in the passing game to go with the speed to cover ground in the secondary. On top of the physical package, Dixon also has the smarts to handle the added pressure of calling shots in the defensive secondary, having excelled in the classroom and graduated from Alabama in just three and a half years.

2002: Dixon opened the 2002 season as a vital part of the club's nickel package, replacing Darren Woodson (who moved to the slot) at strong safety. In the 10th game of the season, Woodson suffered a season-ending groin injury that forced Dixon into the line-up full-time. He responded to these demands with 49 tackles, two sacks, two passes defensed, four quarterback pressures and his first career interception. He was also third on the team with 16 special teams tackles. Dixon suffered a strained hamstring early in the first half against Tennessee (9/15) and did not return. He was back in action the next week at Philadelphia (9/22), recording a tackle and a special teams stop. At St. Louis (9/29), he recorded three key tackles in the "42" and "nickel" packages while finishing second on the team with three special teams tackles. His play on the coverage teams helped limit Terrence Wilkins to one yard on three punt returns, along with one fair catch. Dixon came on to record four tackles against the N.Y. Giants (10/6), and his three tackles against Carolina (10/13) helped limit the Panthers to 192 net passing yards. Dixon earned his first NFL start at Arizona (10/20) when the Cardinals opened with three wide receivers. His five tackles against Seattle (10/27) helped limit the Seahawks to 170 net passing yards. At Detroit (11/3), Dixon recorded two tackles, broke up a pass and added a quarterback pressure as the Lions were limited to 96 net yards passing and a 13.0% third-down conversion rate. Dixon was forced into the full glare of the spotlight at Indianapolis (11/17) when he took over at strong safety for Woodson in the middle of the second quarter after Woodson suffered a strained groin. He went on to record three tackles on the afternoon. His first career start at strong safety in the standard defensive package came against Jacksonville (11/24), where he went on to record five tackles while helping limit the Jags to 194 net passing yards - including a 9.2 yards-per-catch average and just one pass over 20 yards. Dixon recorded four tackles and a quarterback pressure against Washington (11/28) as the Redskins finished the day throwing four interceptions and generating just 121 second half yards on eight possessions. He tied for fourth on the team with six tackles at the N.Y. Giants (12/15). His first sack of the season came against Philadelphia (12/21), while adding four tackles. Dixon finished the year with one of the best performances of his career, recording a career-high eight tackles at Washington (12/29). He was also involved in forcing three turnovers: recording the first interception of his career with a first quarter pick, and then on back-to-back drives in the third quarter forcing fumbles - one during his sack of Patrick Ramsey - that Dallas recovered.

2001: Dixon entered his rookie season nursing a strained hamstring and was deactivated for the season opener against Tampa Bay (9/9). He saw his first NFL action and recorded two tackles working at safety in nickel packages against San Diego (9/23). He continued to see duty as the club's nickel safety the first half of the season and recorded his first career sack with a take-down of Rich Gannon at Oakland (10/7). He also tied for second on the team with two special teams tackles against the Raiders. While covering the second half kickoff at the N.Y. Giants (11/4), Dixon suffered a high ankle sprain in his left leg. The injury forced him to the sidelines for the next five weeks. He returned to practice during the week leading up to the Seattle (12/19) contest but was inactive for that game as well as the following week at Arizona (12/23). Dixon returned to action on special teams against San Francisco (12/30), and then he was back on the field in nickel packages in the season-finale at Detroit (1/6/02).

COLLEGE: A three-year starter at safety for the Crimson Tide, Dixon finished his career with 252 stops. He finished third on the team with 90 tackles and added two interceptions as a senior free safety. Six times over the final nine games of his college career, he reached double figures in tackles, including a career-high 17 tackles against Tennessee. Dixon split time between strong and free safety during his junior campaign, starting the first five games of the year at free before moving to strong. He went on to finish the year second on the squad with 65 tackles for an Alabama team that went 10-3 and captured the SEC title. He saved his best game for the biggest stage, forcing a fumble and contributing a season-high 13 tackles against Florida in Alabama's 34-7 SEC title game win. Dixon moved into the starting lineup at strong safety as a sophomore. He led the secondary and was third on the team with 75 tackles.

PERSONAL: Dixon graduated from Alabama with a degree in business management in December 2000. As a junior at Alabama, he was one of 300 student-athletes from around the nation selected to participate in the third annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. Dixon was a four-year starter, lettering in football, basketball and baseball at Pickens County High School in Reform, Ala., earning all-state gridiron honors as a senior. He played both ways for the Tornadoes, rushing for 1,450 yards and 18 touchdowns, passing for two touchdowns and catching another score as a receiver. On defense, he had six sacks, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. As a junior, he rushed for 1,286 yards and 17 touchdowns while recording 115 tackles and six interceptions on defense - three of which he returned for touchdowns. Dixon earned an advanced diploma and finished fourth in his graduating class. He also became the first athlete from Pickens County High School to sign a Division I scholarship. Off the field, Dixon was the school's Boys' State representative and also served as president and vice president of the student council. As a rookie, Dixon was a member of the Cowboys inaugural "Rookie Club," a program designed to introduce rookies to community service. Throughout the 2001 season, the rookies made visits to and spent time with children at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Oak Cliff Boys and Girls Clubs, The Salvation Army and its' Christmas Distribution Center. Since his rookie season, Dixon has committed himself to volunteering in the Dallas-Ft. Worth community. He has participated in the Plano Komen Race For the Cure, served as a guest speaker at the Rockwall United Way event, the Oak Cliff Boys and Girls Club's Youth Summit and more recently at the 2003 Arlington Silver Eagle Boys Scouts Longhorn Council Annual Fundraising Luncheon. He has also participated in The Salvation Army Angel Tree program providing clothing and toys to needy children, served dinner and interacted with families at the Dallas Ronald McDonald House, served as a football coach at the club's annual United Way Hometown Huddle event for over 100 underprivileged youth and attended the Daryl Johnston hosted MDA Muscle Team Bash as a celebrity guest.