Former NFL and Saints WR Sean Dawkins Passes Away

Former NFL and New Orleans Saints WR Sean Dawkins has sadly passed away this week. Here's a closer look at his football career.

Former NFL and New Orleans Saints WR Sean Dawkins has passed away on Wednesday, August 9, at the age 52. Cause of death has not been disclosed. 

Dawkins was an All-American at the University of California and a first-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1993 NFL Draft. He was the 16th overall pick and second wideout chosen that year.

Dawkins played nine NFL seasons and compiled 463 receptions for 6,526 yards and 27 touchdowns in 145 career games including postseason. 

After playing his first five seasons with the Colts, Dawkins signed with the New Orleans Saints in 1998. He played one year in New Orleans, catching 53 passes for a team-high 823 yards and one score. It would be the second highest catch total and yardage production of his nine-year career.

In his 15 games with the Saints, Dawkins had three 100-yard outings. That was the most he had during any year of his career, which included a career-high 8 catches and career-high 148 yards against the San Francisco 49ers on November 22, 1998.

Former New Orleans Saints WR Sean Dawkins (86) during a 1998 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Credit: Indianapolis Recorder

Dawkins left the Saints for the Seattle Seahawks in 1999, where he'd play two years before ending his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2001. He was inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame for a collegiate career that included consensus All-American honors in 1992.

Upon his retirement from football, Dawkins had trained to become a police officer in San Jose, CA.