'Don't settle. Push through. There is something special on the other side.'
Brian Dawkins left some indelible moments on the playing fields in Jacksonville, Clemson, and Philadelphia, but his speech during the NFL's Hall of Fame Ceremony last week was a testament to triumph over tragedy.
The former Clemson star left his mark in Canton, OH, delivering a speech that will be remembered for years to come.
As Dawkins approached the microphone he was overcome with emotion.
"Oh boy, Hallelujah. First of all, Hallelujah!!"
From the 'blessed by the best' shirt he wore to honor all those people who helped shape him along the way, the nine-time Pro Bowler made sure that everyone knew that he didn't arrive in Canton, OH on his own.
"Football was what I did; it is not who I am. It did not define me," Dawkins stated.
Opening the inside of his gold jacket, Dawkins asked the Hall of Fame if they would 'appease' him for just one request.
"I would like to put every last individual that's special in my life in my jacket somewhere, so every time that I put this thing on, it reminds me visually and emotionally that I did not do this by myself."
Dawkins acknowledged his former high school and college teammate Patrick Sapp during the event. Sapp, who was the more coveted and sought after recruit in high school was in attendance and featured in the induction video, was 'the dude' that Dawkins wanted to be.
"P-Sapp, brother man, you were my rabbit. I chased you all through high school; rather you are that dude I wanted much success for. I wanted to supplant you to be 'that dude.' Listen I know I didn't do it by myself."
As respected as he was during his playing days, Dawkins noted that he never expected to be where he was.
"It wasn't supposed to be me. This wasn't supposed to happen to Brian Dawkins. I was not the biggest of guys growing up. I was not always 'the dude' that's why I was chasing Pat so doggone much. It was never me."
As much love as Dawkins had for his teammates during his career; it was the concern of NOT delivering for them that kept him playing at the highest level.
"Listen, teammates, listen. I had a healthy dose of "fear of letting you down." That's why I went so doggone hard. I never wanted to let you down," Dawkins said. "I did anything that I could do for you. I would do for you. I gave everything I had, to the last drop for you. Because I loved you so doggone much."
Dawkins went on to admit that his success was a byproduct of pain.
"The majority of success that I have had have come on the back end of pain. Pain has pushed me to levels unknown to me at the time.
"There's a purpose for my pain. As you've been listening, all you probably read all this week, I suffer from depression. I went through it moderately during my rookie year," Dawkins recalled. "I suffered through suicidal thoughts, I was actually planning the way that I would kill myself, so my wife would get the money."
Speaking to his wife Connie, Dawkins noted that she played a large part in helping him.
"Because of you, because of you urging me to go see a psychologist to talk about my problems and to be more open with you about my problems so that we can talk things out. You prayed for me. You were there for me. You would not let me settle."
The former Clemson star didn't 'go' through those ups and downs, ultimately he would 'grow' through them, Dawkins appealed to everyone struggling to push through.
"I have grown leaps and bounds because of the things that I've gone through, and that's one of those things that I went through. When I say went through, that means I came out on the other side of it," Dawkins noted. "So for those who are going through it right now, there's hope. You do have hope. There is something on the other side of this. Don't get caught up where you are. Don't stay where you are. Keep moving. Keep pushing through."
Despite his internal battles, Dawkins continued to excel, often fueled by those people who said that he was too small.
"I'm not looking down on those who talked about me, but I want to thank my haters. I want to thank those people that told me that I wouldn't be where I am today. Guess what their words were to me? They just pushed my turbine. They gave me even more energy. So my haters became my elevators."
His father's lessons of resilience were also a large part of Dawkins' success. Watching his dad work multiple jobs to make ends meet was something that didn't go unnoticed.
"When I wanted to quit in one of those painful situations in Pop Warner, my dad told me when you start something you finish it. You don't have a bad attitude I bet not have a coach come home, talking to me about you having a bad attitude. When you start something, you finish it. That grit, that determination, that fire and then that ability to never quit to never give in came from my mom and dad."
As for his future, Dawkins isn't sure what's coming, but he knows that it won't always be easy.
"I believe that there's gonna be some painful things to come. I know it is, but I'm prepared for the pain. I'm prepared to push through it," Dawkins stated. "I'm gonna persevere through it with his help, and his guidance. With that purpose and with that pain, I'm going to be able to bless so many more people, with what God has put inside of me. Don't settle in this life. Don't settle. Don't allow yourself to settle. Push through the pain. On the other side of that pain is something special for you to go on to the next level of what God has for you."
Before closing, Dawkins recognized the sacrifice that many Philadelphia fans made to be a part of Weapon X's big moment.
"And finally! Let's talk about these Eagles fans. I know some of you drove all the way from Philly here. I have a good understanding that you don't have money just to waste. So that means, that means that you put hard earned money that you were saving to come out here to celebrate with your boy! So thank you. Thank you for loving me the way that I loved you back."