Rickey Dixon facts for kids

Rickey Dixon (December 26, 1966 – August 1, 2020) was an American professional football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). A safety is a defensive player who helps stop long passes and runs. Rickey Dixon played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Cincinnati Bengals picked him in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft. He was the fifth player chosen overall. He played for the Bengals for five seasons. Later, he played one season for the Los Angeles Raiders.

Rickey Dixon's College Football Journey

Rickey Dixon was a talented defensive back at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas. He joined the Sooners in 1984. He played in four Orange Bowls from 1985 to 1988. These were big games that often decided the national champion.

Winning a National Championship

Rickey was a key player when Oklahoma won the 1985 National Championship. They beat Penn State in the 1986 Orange Bowl. This was a huge achievement for the team.

Awards and Honors for Rickey Dixon

In 1987, Rickey was named a consensus All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college football players in the country. He was the first player from Oklahoma to win the Jim Thorpe Award. This award goes to the top defensive back in college football. He shared the award with Bennie Blades from Miami. Rickey also earned "all-conference" honors in 1986 and 1987. This means he was one of the best players in the Big 8 Conference.

Key Game: Oklahoma vs. Nebraska (1987)

A very important game in Rickey's college career was in 1987 against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This game was called the "Game of the Century II." Nebraska was ranked number one in offense. Oklahoma was ranked number two in the nation, with the number one defense.

Nebraska's quarterback, Steve Taylor, said Oklahoma couldn't compete with his team. But Rickey Dixon made two big interceptions in that game. One interception led to a quick touchdown for Oklahoma. The other happened late in the game, securing the win for the Sooners. This victory guaranteed Oklahoma a chance to play the Miami Hurricanes in the 1988 Orange Bowl. In that Orange Bowl, Rickey made another important interception. This helped set up a touchdown for Oklahoma, though Miami eventually won the game 20-14.

Rickey Dixon's College Statistics

Rickey Dixon finished his college career with 170 total tackles. He also had 17 interceptions, which is the second-highest in school history. During his senior year, he set school records with nine interceptions for 232 yards.

Rickey Dixon's NFL Career and Life After Football

The Cincinnati Bengals chose Rickey Dixon as the fifth pick in the 1988 NFL Draft.

Playing in the Super Bowl

He made one interception during his first season with the Bengals. Even though he mostly played on special teams, Rickey Dixon played in Super Bowl XXIII. This big game was against the San Francisco 49ers. Before the 1993 season, Dixon was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders.

Life After Playing Football

After leaving the NFL, Rickey Dixon became a coach. He coached at W.T White High School and Paul Quinn College. He also worked as a physical education teacher at Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas. He retired from teaching in May 2007.

In 2013, Rickey Dixon was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This is a serious condition that affects nerve cells.

In 2019, Rickey Dixon was honored by being elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. This is a very special recognition for college players.

Rickey Dixon passed away on August 1, 2020, at 53 years old. He died in DeSoto, Texas, due to complications from ALS.

* Tackle data unavailable before 2001

• Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference