Domenik Hixon facts for kids
Hixon represents the Panthers at the Do the Right Thing 2013 Awards
|
|||||||||
| No. 12, 87 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | October 8, 1984 Neunkirchen, West Germany |
||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 197 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Whitehall (OH) Whitehall-Yearling | ||||||||
| College: | Akron | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 4 / Pick: 130 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Domenik Hixon, born on October 8, 1984, is a former professional American football player. He was a wide receiver and a return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). Domenik was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears. He won the Super Bowl twice with the New York Giants.
Contents
Domenik Hixon's Early Life and High School Sports
Domenik Hixon was born in West Germany. His father was African American, and his mother was German. He grew up in Whitehall, Ohio.
High School Sports Star
Domenik went to Whitehall-Yearling High School. He was a talented athlete in many sports. He earned a "letter" in football, basketball, track, and baseball.
In basketball, he was an Honorable Mention All-State point guard. In track, he was great at the high jump. He could jump over 6 feet, 5 inches!
College Football Career at Akron
Domenik Hixon played college football for the Akron team. He was a key player for their offense.
Winning the MAC Championship
In 2005, Domenik helped Akron win its first-ever MAC Championship. In the final game, he caught a 36-yard touchdown pass. This amazing catch happened with only 11 seconds left. It secured the win for Akron.
Domenik Hixon's NFL Journey
Domenik Hixon had an exciting career in the National Football League. He played for several teams.
Starting with the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos drafted Domenik in 2006. He played four games for them in the 2007 season. He was mainly their starting kick returner.
Becoming a Giant: New York Giants Years
The New York Giants signed Domenik in 2007. He quickly became their main kickoff returner.
Big Plays for the Giants
In his first season with the Giants, he returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown. This happened against the undefeated New England Patriots.
During the Giants' run to Super Bowl XLII, Domenik was crucial. His kick returns gave the team good field position. This helped their offense score many times. He also made important tackles on special teams.
In a big playoff game in 2007, he recovered a critical fumble. This helped the Giants win the NFC Championship. They later won Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots.
Continued Success and Challenges
In 2008, Domenik had a great preseason game. He caught two touchdown passes. He also returned an 82-yard kickoff for a touchdown.
He later became a starter for the Giants. In his first start, he had 4 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Domenik faced some tough injuries during his career. He tore his ACL (a knee ligament) in 2010. He worked hard to return to the team in 2011. However, he tore his ACL again in the second week of the 2011 season.
Despite injuries, Domenik had a strong career with the Giants. He made 31 special teams tackles. He caught 63 passes for 838 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also returned many punts and kickoffs for thousands of yards. He won a second Super Bowl with the Giants in 2012.
Moving to the Carolina Panthers
In 2013, Domenik signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. He made a game-winning play for them. In a game against the New Orleans Saints, he caught a 14-yard touchdown pass. This helped the Panthers win and take first place in their division.
Brief Time with the Chicago Bears
In 2014, Domenik signed with the Chicago Bears. Sadly, he tore his ACL for a third time during practice.
Retirement from Football
After his third ACL injury, Domenik Hixon decided to retire from the NFL. He announced his retirement on his Facebook page.
Giving Back: Charity Work
Domenik Hixon is passionate about helping others. He co-founded the Next Level Football Camp.
Next Level Football Camp
This camp helps children in the Columbus, Ohio area. It provides a summer football training program. The camp focuses on kids who might not otherwise have these opportunities. Many current and former NFL players have helped at the camp.
