Kevin Dyson facts for kids

Kevin Tyree Dyson (born June 23, 1975) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Kevin played college football for the Utah Utes. The Tennessee Oilers picked him 16th overall in the 1998 NFL draft.

Dyson is famous for being part of two big NFL plays. These plays are called the Music City Miracle and The Tackle. He and his brother Andre made history. They were the first brothers in the NFL to score touchdowns in the same game.

After his football career, Kevin Dyson went back to school. He earned two master's degrees and a doctorate. He then became a principal, first at a middle school and later at a high school.

Early Life and College Football

Growing Up in Utah

Kevin Dyson was born in Logan, Utah. He went to Clearfield High School in Clearfield, Utah. He graduated from high school in 1993. In his senior year, he helped his team win the 1992 State 4A championship. This was a big achievement for his high school team.

Playing for the Utah Utes

After high school, Kevin went to the University of Utah. He played for the Utah Utes football team for five seasons. He played from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, he earned a degree in sociology. As a starter for four seasons, Kevin caught 192 passes. He gained 2,726 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

Joining the Tennessee Titans

Kevin Dyson played for the Tennessee Titans from 1998 to 2002. He wore jersey number 87. During the 1999 playoffs, he was part of two very famous plays in NFL history.

The Music City Miracle

One play was called the Music City Miracle. In this play, Frank Wycheck threw a lateral to Dyson. A lateral is a pass thrown sideways or backward. Dyson then ran with the ball. This amazing play helped the Titans win a playoff game.

The Tackle in the Super Bowl

The other famous play happened in Super Bowl XXXIV. The Titans were playing against the St. Louis Rams. Kevin Dyson caught a pass and was running to score a touchdown. If he scored, it would have tied the game or won it. But Mike Jones tackled him just one yard short of the goal line. The game ended right after that play. This moment is known as The Tackle.

Later NFL Teams

In 2003, Dyson played for the Carolina Panthers. He did not play much because of an injury. He did appear briefly in Super Bowl XXXVIII. The San Diego Chargers signed Dyson for the 2004 season. However, they later released him. In 2005, he signed with the Washington Redskins. But he was cut from the team before the season started. Kevin Dyson played 6 NFL seasons. He finished with 178 catches for 2,325 yards. He also scored 18 touchdowns in 59 regular-season games.

Life After Football

Becoming an Educator

After retiring from football, Kevin Dyson focused on his education. He earned a Master of Education degree in 2007. He then earned a doctorate from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Dyson worked as a counselor and a wide receiver coach. He was at Glencliff Comprehensive High School in Nashville from 2007 to 2009. Since 2008, he has been involved with an organization called Students Taking A Right Stand. He later became a coach and athletic director at Independence High School. In 2010, he became the head coach there.

Kevin Dyson also served as an assistant principal at Independence High School. He was also the principal of Grassland Middle School in Franklin, Tennessee. On April 22, 2021, he was named the principal at Centennial High School in Franklin.

Family Life

Kevin Dyson is the older brother of Andre Dyson. Andre also played in the NFL as a cornerback. He was even Kevin's teammate on the Titans for a short time. During his football career, Kevin lived in Nashville and Salt Lake City.