Eagles fans, make your travel plans for Canton, Ohio! Respect has been earned.
On the eve of the Eagles' appearance in Super Bowl LII, safety Brian Dawkins and wide receiver Terrell Owens have been named members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2018. The ceremony will take place this August.
Dawkins is the 13th player in franchise history to be selected to both the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"This is tremendous news and I could not be more proud of Brian," Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said. "Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an honor he truly earned. He epitomized everything we love about the game of football. His intensity, his passion, his love of the game, and his leadership were always dialed in at the highest possible level. He connected in every possible way with the City of Philadelphia and our legion of Eagles fans across the country. We cannot wait to celebrate his special night in Canton this summer.
"Terrell Owens is one of the most talented and exciting wide receivers ever to play the game and he is very deserving of this honor. We appreciate all of his contributions to the league and to one of the finest seasons in the history of our franchise."
Dawkins and Owens will be the first Eagles to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame since Claude Humphrey in 2014. The last longtime Eagle to be enshrined was the late Reggie White in 2006.
Now an executive in football operations for the Eagles, Dawkins was a physical and spiritual leader for 13 seasons with the team. He was a Pro Bowl selection seven times, tied for second most in franchise history. Dawkins finished as the team's all-time leader in games played (183) - since surpassed by David Akers - and tied for first in interceptions (34) by the end of his playing tenure with the Eagles in 2008.
"The numbers alone make a strong case for Dawkins as a Hall of Famer, but his impact goes far beyond that," said Ray Didinger, a former member of the Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors. "I would contend Dawkins changed the safety position in today's NFL."
A second-round pick out of Clemson in 1996, Dawkins helped guide one of the most successful periods in franchise history. The team made the playoffs eight times, won five division titles, earned four trips to the NFC Championship Game, and reached the Super Bowl for only the second time thanks in large part to Dawkins. He is just the ninth pure safety to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A look back at the storied career of Brian Dawkins, who announced his retirement ...
The Falcons will certainly remember Brian Dawkins' impact on the 2004 NFC title game
Where there's smoke, there's Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins finally gets to hoist the NFC Championship trophy
Brian Dawkins shows the fans at Lincoln Financial Field the Halas Trophy
Weapon X prepares to emerge from the tunnel
Brian Dawkins flew to strip the ball from Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
Brian Dawkins soared through the air to make the interception
Brian Dawkins snares the interception with a tip-toe move in the playoffs against the Bucs
Dawkins celebrates the big play against the Panthers
The Eagles stunned the Bears to reach the NFC title game in 2001
The guns are on full display after Dawkins comes up with the turnover
A beautiful over-the-shoulder interception against Dallas
Dawkins celebrates the acrobatic grab
Dawkins and the Eagles celebrate a turnover against Michael Vick's Falcons in the 2004 NFC title game
Dawkins' tackle of Daunte Culpepper keeps the Vikings out of the end zone
Dawkins celebrates yet another turnover
A young Brian Dawkins poses for his headshot
In case you didn't know, it's B-Dawk
Brian Dawkins arrives in Jacksonville for Super Bowl XXXIX
A large poster of Dawkins hangs at his alma mater Raines High School in Jacksonville
Dawkins and his Eagles teammates at the Pro Bowl following the 2004 season
Dawkins finished his Eagles career with 34 interceptions, tied for first in team history
Dawkins stays in bounds to get the pick against the Giants
Dawkins interacts with kids at the annual Eagles Youth Partnership Playground Build
Dawkins was a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
Dawkins in Super Bowl XXXIX
Down goes Manning!
Brian Dawkins was named by the fans to the 75th Anniversary Team in 2007
Owens spent just two of his 15 NFL seasons in Philadelphia, but was an instrumental part of the team that won the NFC title in 2004. In just 21 regular-season games with the Eagles, Owens had 124 catches for 1,963 yards and 20 touchdowns. Owens' 14 receiving touchdowns in 2004 set a new franchise mark. He had seven 100-yard receiving games that season, also a team record, on his way to achieving Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Seven weeks after suffering a broken leg late in the regular season, Owens played in Super Bowl XXXIX and caught nine passes for 122 yards.
Owens was one of the most dominant playmakers of his time. He is second all time in NFL history in receiving yards, third in receiving touchdowns, and eighth in catches.
