NFL and Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins blast Trump DHS over anti-immigrant propaganda video
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The NFL has asked the Department of Homeland Security to take down a social media video showcasing highlights of Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins that referenced a reported caravan of immigrants traveling toward the U.S. border.
The video uploaded on Sunday shows Dawkins' pregame walkout as he chants "The time has come," followed by several heavy hits. The DHS post carried the caption "Our time has come."
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy stated Monday, "The league has requested the DHS take down the video."
Dawkins further condemned the post in a message on his X profile, saying: "Letβs be clear, I didnβt give permission for my name, image and likeness to be used by anybody."
Before his 2011 retirement, Dawkins was a nine-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro safety over 16 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.
A fan of the "Wolverine" Marvel comic, Dawkins played like a safety, cornerback, linebacker and defensive lineman in one package. No. 20 was the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles' defense throughout the teamβs successful run in the 2000s. Those unique skills helped Dawkins become the first defensive back in franchise history chosen for the Hall of Fame.
Dawkins was a four-time All-Pro and reached seven Pro Bowls across 13 seasons with the Eagles. He earned two additional Pro Bowl selections in three seasons for the Denver Broncos.
Dawkins featured in five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl, a 24-21 defeat to the New England Patriots after the 2004 season. He registered 37 interceptions, 36 forced fumbles and 26 sacks over 224 regular-season contests.
His massive hit on Atlantaβs Alge Crumpler defined Philadelphiaβs 27-10 win over the Falcons, sending the team to its second Super Bowl appearance.
"That was kind of a tone setter for what the game was going to be about," Dawkins said. "It was going to be a physical contest. We knew that going into it. We talked about it all week long. It just so happened that Alge got the brunt of that blow when it comes to the frustration and anger I felt."
Selected in the second round from Clemson in 1996, Dawkins became a starter as a rookie under coach Ray Rhodes. He flourished after Andy Reid succeeded Rhodes in 1999 and brought defensive coordinator Jim Johnson to Philly.
This past Sunday, Trump used televised broadcast time to run campaign advertisements that were "paid for by the U.S. government" during NFL games β warning football fans about a "final battle" for the country.
"This is the final battle with you at my side," Trump says in the ad, which features him walking down a hallway as suspenseful music plays.
"We will cast out the communists, Marxists and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country. We will rout the fake news media, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all," Trump said.
