Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins has said he did not give the Department of Homeland Security permission to use his image in a border security post, according to a report from the source outlet, whose headline described the hits as having become “disturbing DHS border content.”
What DHS posted
DHS shared a video of Dawkins’ pregame entrance and hard hits in response to a post about a reported migrant caravan. The caption read “Our time has come.” A follow-up image of Dawkins carried the words “The Border Is Closed.”
NFL and Dawkins respond
The NFL asked the department to take the video down. League spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed the request, saying, “The league has requested the DHS take down the video.”
Dawkins also addressed the matter himself. “I have respectfully not given permission to anyone other than those I currently do business with to use my NIL,” he wrote, referring to his name, image and likeness. He closed with “Be Blessed!”
DHS stands by the post
DHS did not back down. The department said, “DHS is playing lockdown defense at the border. We will use every Weapon at our disposal, from A to X, to keep Americans safe,” a reference to Dawkins’ “Weapon X” nickname. DHS general counsel James Percival also responded to a report about the removal request with a Bugs Bunny image saying “No.”
Dawkins’ career and legacy
Dawkins played 16 NFL seasons and became closely associated with Philadelphia, where his tunnel entrances were part of the city’s football identity. His versatility as a safety helped change the position. He could cover receivers, blitz and stop the run, and he is the only NFL player to reach 25 sacks, 25 interceptions and 25 forced fumbles.
The Eagles retired his No. 20, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Since his playing days, Dawkins has spoken openly about depression and supported young people’s mental wellness through his foundation.
As of the source’s report, the dispute remained unresolved, with the NFL having requested removal and DHS publicly defending its message.
Source: thesource.com
Image: Jeffrey Beall / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
