Marcus Dwayne Dixon (born September 16, 1984) is an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

coach and a former

defensive end Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially ...

in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

for the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...

and

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The J ...

of the

(NFL). He is the

defensive line coach In American football, a position coach is a team official in charge of coaching a specific position group. Position coaches have more specialized duties than the head coach, assistant coach, and the Offensive coordinator, offensive and Defensive c ...

for the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...

. Dixon was signed by the

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

in 2008. He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

Hampton University Hampton University is a private, historically black, research university in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1868 as Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, it was established by Black and White leaders of the American Missionary Association af ...

. Dixon is also known for a 2003 court case in which, whilst still at high school, he was convicted of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. The latter charge was later overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court.

Early years

Dixon attended Pepperell High School, where he competed in football,

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

and

track Track or Tracks may refer to: Routes or imprints * Ancient trackway, any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity * Animal track, imprints left on surfaces that an animal walks across * Desire path, a line worn by people taking the shorte ...

. As a junior, he registered 98 tackles (12 for loss), 3 sacks and 7 passes defensed, receiving first-team All-area honors. He also placed third in the regional

shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. The shot put competition for men has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's ...

and discus. As a senior, Dixon attempted to play in the season opener with a chip bone in his left knee, but he suffered a setback. On September 17, he underwent knee surgery and was not able to continue playing football during his recovery process. Dixon was a grade A student and excelled on the football field to the point where he had been offered a full

scholarship A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need. Scholarsh ...

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...

, which he was unable to undertake due to his subsequent imprisonment.

College career

Upon his release from prison, Dixon accepted a football scholarship from

Division I-AA The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, is the second-highest level of college football in the United States, after the Football Bowl Subdivision. Sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic ...

Hampton, Virginia Hampton () is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 137,148. It is the List ...

. As a true freshman, he appeared in all 12 games, starting 6 of the last 7 contests. He had 38 tackles (seventh on the team) and 9 tackles for loss (fifth on the team). As a sophomore, Dixon started 9 out of 10 games, collecting 33 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss and one interception. As a junior, he started in all 11 games playing at

and

defensive tackle A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that will typically line up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the offensive guards, however he may also line up opposite one of the tackles. Defensive tackles are typically the la ...

, while making 25 tackles, 4 sacks (third on the team) and 5.5 tackles for loss. As a senior, Dixon posted 58 tackles (third on the team), 5 sacks (tied for the team lead), 8 quarterback hurries, 16 tackles for loss (led the team), 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one block kick. In the season opener against

Morgan State University Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known ...

, he tallied 9 tackles (2.5 for loss), one sack and had a 13-yard touchdown reception as a

tight end The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like ...

. In four seasons with the Pirates, Dixon finished with 154 tackles and 11.5 sacks. He was a three-time captain, an All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) selection in his last two years and contributed to 3 MEAC championships.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

On April 27, 2008, Dixon signed a three-year, $1.1 million deal with the

as an

. He was slowed with groin and abdominal injuries, only playing in the last preseason game. He was waived on August 30. In 2009, Dixon was slowed with a back injury during the preseason. He was released on September 5 and signed to the practice squad on September 7. In 2010, Dixon saw limited playing time during preseason. He was released on September 4, 2010.

New York Jets

On September 5, 2010, Dixon was claimed off waivers by the

. He was active in 3 games with one start, making 4 tackles and one sack. An exclusive rights free agent, Dixon was signed to a one-year contract on January 26, 2011. He appeared in 16 games with 3 starts, posting 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during the season. Dixon was released on September 1, 2012. He was re-signed to the active roster on September 4. He appeared in 3 games, before being released on September 24. In his time with the Jets, he played in 22 games (4 starts), registering 21 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Kansas City Chiefs

On February 9, 2013, Dixon was signed by the

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The tea ...

. He was cut on August 31.

Tennessee Titans

On January 3, 2014, Dixon was signed to a futures contract with the

Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their h ...

. He was released during final cuts on August 29.

BC Lions (CFL)

On October 20, 2014, Dixon was signed to the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions played their first season ...

practice roster in the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

. He made his CFL debut in the final game of the regular season against the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-old ...

. He was re-signed on March 2, 2015. He retired on April 30, 2015.

Coaching career

Early Coaching Career

In 2012, he was a volunteer

defensive line In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line, while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line. A numbe ...

coach at

Shorter University Shorter University is a private Baptist university in Rome, Georgia. It was founded in 1873 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through six colleges and schools. In addition Shorter operates the Robert H. Ledbetter College of Busines ...

. In 2015, he was offered a Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship by the Dallas Cowboys from May through the first week of September. In 2016, he was hired as an assistant football coach for the

and

tight ends The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like ...

Darlington School Darlington School is a private, coeducational, college-preparatory day and boarding school in Rome, Georgia founded in 1905. It serves students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12, and is divided into a Pre-K to 8 division and an Upper School divi ...

Hampton University

In 2017, he was hired as the

assistant football coach at

. In 2018, he added the role of Director of Player Development. In 2019, he was named the assistant football coach for

s and also served as director of player development and recruiting coordinator.

Rams

The

Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The Rams play ...

hired Dixon as their assistant defensive line coach on February 23, 2021. Dixon won his first Super Bowl championship when the Rams defeated the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The c ...

Super Bowl LVI Super Bowl LVI was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2021 season. The National Football Conference (NFC) champion Los Angeles Rams defeated the American Football Conference ...

Denver Broncos

On February 18, 2022, Dixon was hired by the

to serve as the team's defensive line coach for the 2022 season.

Personal life

Dixon v. State case

Kristie Brown alleged that on February 10, 2003, Dixon forced her to have sex, taking her

virginity Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

. She has stated that contrary to Dixon's supporters' belief, she was never Dixon's girlfriend and although they shared classes, they barely knew each other. The jury acquitted Dixon of rape,

battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

assault An assault is the act of committing physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in crim ...

and

false imprisonment False imprisonment or unlawful imprisonment occurs when a person intentionally restricts another person’s movement within any area without legal authority, justification, or the restrained person's permission. Actual physical restraint is ...

, but because Brown was only 15 and Dixon 18 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at the

mandatory Mandate most often refers to: * League of Nations mandates, quasi-colonial territories established under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, 28 June 1919 * Mandate (politics) In representative democracies, a mandate (or seat) ...

amount under Georgia law, 10 years imprisonment.Marcus Dixon
snopes.com. Retrieved on October 14, 2013. If he had been found guilty of rape, he would have faced a much less severe punishment.People's Weekly World – Act now to free Marcus Dixon
Supporters of Dixon including the

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E.&nb ...

and the Rev. Joseph Lowery's People's Agenda alleged the charges were racially motivated. The President of the

Children's Defense Fund The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on child advocacy and research. It was founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman. History The CDF was founded in 1973, citi ...

Marian Wright Edelman Marian Wright Edelman (born June 6, 1939) is an American activist for civil rights and children's rights. She is the founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund. She influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Hillary ...

called it a "Legal

Lynching Lynching is an extrajudicial killing by a group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate people. It can also be an ex ...

Overturned conviction and release

The Georgia Supreme Court overturned Dixon's conviction for child molestation and he was released the same day, on May 3, 2004. The court let his conviction for misdemeanor statutory rape stand. After Dixon's release both he and Brown appeared on ''

The Oprah Winfrey Show ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', often referred to as ''The Oprah Show'' or simply ''Oprah'', is an American daytime broadcast syndication, syndicated talk show that aired nationally for 25 seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in Chicag ...

'' in an attempt to clarify their stories.

References

External links

Hampton Pirates bio

Draft prospect determined to address doubts about his characterOfficial WebsiteBC Lions bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Marcus 1984 births Living people Sportspeople from Rome, Georgia Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state) American football defensive ends Canadian football defensive linemen African-American players of American football African-American players of Canadian football Hampton Pirates football players Dallas Cowboys players New York Jets players Kansas City Chiefs players Los Angeles Rams coaches Tennessee Titans players High school football coaches in Georgia (U.S. state) Hampton Pirates football coaches Overturned convictions in the United States 21st-century African-American sportspeople 20th-century African-American people Denver Broncos coaches